Mr Holland's Opus.SCW - Daily Script

MR. HOLLAND'S OPUS A screenplay by Patrick Sheane Duncan

UNDATED FIRST DRAFT

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FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY

EXT.

KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOL, DAY - 1994

CARL HERRICK, early 50's, gets out of his piece of junk, rusted through the floorboards, ten-year-old Chevy station wagon. He approaches the school entrance. The dull, weathered letters on the building spell out "John F. Kennedy High School". A marquee on the grass in front of the building says, "Home of the Hawkeyes", and "Good Luck! Class of "94". There are a few cars in the parking lot, fewer people hanging around -- school is out. The rope on the flagpole clangs against the pole. A lonely, desolate sound. Herrick, battered briefcase in one hand, empty box in the other, trudges into the building. INT. KENNEDY HIGH Herrick walks down the hallway. At the far end of the corridor a janitor is sweeping. All of the lockers hang open and empty. Herrick enters a classroom. INT. MUSIC ROOM Herrick stands in the doorway and takes in the classroom. The piano at one end -- circling high on the wall are pictures of Stephen Foster, George Gershwin, Art Tatum, Dizzy Gillespie, Hank Williams, Chuck Berry, Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys, one each of the four Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, The Ramones, Chrissie Hynde, Dylan, Springsteen, and of course, Bob Seger -- this is Michigan after all. Cluttering the classroom is the detritus of the years -- a dusty, stuffed Opus figure, a .45 record player, records, sheet music, a clear plastic paperweight with a dandelion suspended inside -- a stained glass clef note hanging in the window -- a bust of Beethoven, painted psychedelic. Herrick breaks himself out of his reverie and walks over to the desk and drops the box and his briefcase. Where to begin. He pulls open the desk drawers and starts sorting through them. Some things go into the wastebasket, others into the briefcase or the box. There is no joy in his work. So absorbed is he in his grim sorting that he doesn't hear the entrance of GLEN MEISTER, the boys' gym teacher. Near 60, his head as bald as a baby's butt, a stomach like he was smuggling a watermelon under his sweatshirt.

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MEISTER Hi, Carl... I ... I heard they cut the music program. Damn shame. Damn shame. Won't be too long before the pennypinching bastards start barking at my heels. HERRICK You don't have anything to worry about, Glen. When they cancel the sports program in an American high school it'll be a sign of the apocalypse. MEISTER Well, it's nice to see you got a sense of humor about the whole thing. HERRICK Sense of humor? Look at me, Glen. I'm fifty-five years old, with no job ... not much of anything really. I've never owned a new car. My savings couldn't buy a week at a Holiday Inn. I'm too young to retire and too old to rock and roll. I'm going to clean out my desk and walk out of here -- and in a few weeks this room will be the home for Advanced Algebra and no one will remember I was ever here. Meister doesn't know what to say. MEISTER You need any help here? HERRICK No.

Thanks.

MEISTER Well ... hell... You'll be ... missed around here. You know... There is an uncomfortable silence as Meister looks around the room. MEISTER I'll see you around, won't I, Carl?

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HERRICK Yeah, you'll see me around. Meister pauses a moment, then leaves. Herrick finishes with the desk drawers and goes over to the record player. There is a stack of .45 records on the table next to it. Sorting through the records brings a nostalgic smile. One record even prompts a laugh. He puts it on the turntable, turns on the record player and lifts the needle into the scratchy groove. THE TRASHMEN Well, everybody's heard about the bird... Well, the bird, bird, bird, bird is a word... Well, the bird, bird, bird, bird is a word... The opening lines of the stupidest rock song ever written or sort of sung -- "Surfin' Bird" by The Trashmen. EXT. KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOL, DAY - 1964 Herrick parks his '62 Corvair convertible in the teachers lot. His name has been newly painted on the curb. He smiles. Other cars pull in -- teachers and students going into their respective lots. Brand new briefcase in hand, Herrick approaches the school entrance. School buses pull up in front and discharge students. Above the entrance the name of the school is being changed. "James A. Garfield" is now just a shadow on the unfaded brick. The maintenance man is on a ladder scrubbing away the dirt with a wire brush. On the grass below, the new letters are laid out -- "John F. Kennedy". There is no marquee on the grass yet. Herrick enters the school with the flood of students. INT.

KENNEDY HIGH, DAY

Herrick gets a few curious looks from the students as he walks down the hall. PRINCIPAL WOLTERS exits a classroom, sees Herrick. Mr. Herrick!

WOLTERS Morning!


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HERRICK Good morning, Principal Wolters. WOLTERS No need to be so formal, you can call me Mr. Wolters. Did I see you pull up in a Corvair? A Corvair, son? Didn't you read Ralph Nader's book? HERRICK Yes, sadly. After I bought the car. And unless Mr. Nader wants to buy me a new one I'll have to keep it until the wheels fall off. WOLTERS Which might not be too long from now. Have a good first day, Mr. Herrick. Wolters slaps Herrick on the back and walks away. checks the room numbers and enters one.

Herrick

INT. MUSIC ROOM The same piano, the same bust of Beethoven -- still white faux marble. A scale of notes above the blackboard -- the rest of the room undecorated. Students drift in. Herrick sets his briefcase on the desk, transfers some papers from it to an empty drawer. He checks the other drawers -- empty except for a stray pencil stub or paper clip. He takes a music textbook from his briefcase and plops it down on the desk. He stares at it with the same enthusiasm the students probably will. Turning to the blackboard he prints his name. The bell rings while he is still printing. He takes a breath and turns to face a classroom of kids. HERRICK Good morning. My name is Mr. Herrick and that is what I prefer to be called. Mr. Herrick. It is a title of courtesy. I will extend that same courtesy to you. Now it is the kids' turn to sigh -- it's going to be a long year.


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INT. CAFETERIA, DAY The teachers all eat at the same table. Herrick approaches and puts his tray down. A couple of the other teachers nod or smile in greeting. Principal Wolters patrols the cafeteria, corralling a group of teenage girls gossiping and giggling in a corner. Glen Meister, 30 years younger, sets his tray across from Herrick. A full head of hair, flat stomach, sportcoat over his sweatshirt. He runs his fingers through his hair and slaps his stomach for emphasis as he talks. MEISTER Hi, we haven't met yet. Glen Meister, Phys. Ed.

I'm

HERRICK That would account for the whistle. Carl Herrick, Music. They shake. Meister looks down at the whistle, puzzled, he isn't very quick on the uptake. MEISTER Yeah, right. Welcome to Gar... Kennedy. Let me give you a piece of advice, this being your first day... HERRICK I know, never let the students get the upper hand. Herrick sees Wolters making the girls kneel on the floor. MEISTER Nah, that's a given. A word to the wise -- keep your hands off the girls' gym teacher. HERRICK Pardon? MEISTER Your predecessor, Mr. Bunte, was caught giving Miss Esparza a beef injection on the Home Ec room sofa. They fired her cute little butt. HERRICK And him, too, of course.


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MEISTER No, it wasn't his fault. She was a flirt. Bunte got a reprimand, out his wife hit him with their Buick. He's in Arizona recuperating and the wife is in Chicago, auditioning lawyers I'd guess. Wolters is measuring each of the girls' skirts. Several of the skirts don't touch the floor when the girls kneel. Wolters barks and the skirts are unrolled at the waist until they hit linoleum. The girls are released, their faces red. Wolters' dress code radar spots one of the boys. WOLTERS Mr. Postma, is that a pair of dungarees? Wolters takes the boy by the elbow and escorts him out of the cafeteria. Herrick shakes his head. HERRICK So, keep my hands off the girls' gym teacher, right? MEISTER That's the word, though it's easier this year. That's her, there, Miss Jacobs. MISS JACOBS, a woman in shorts and a Garfield High School Tshirt carries a tray toward their table. Squat, muscular, the shape of a fire hydrant, she looks like a bulldog with breasts. HERRICK I'll try to control my lust. Meister laughs and slaps his stomach. INT. MUSIC ROOM, DAY Herrick writes on the blackboard -- "Lydian Model". HERRICK The Lydian mode is equivalent to the white keys on the piano, from F to F. From this we get the Ambrosian and Gregorian modes. Who can tell me where the term Gregorian comes from?


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Herrick looks at the class -- they are in a severe trance of boredom. So is Herrick. HERRICK Okay... Pope Gregory the First was trying to add to the variety of church composition. Since the 4th Century there had only been allowed... He's not making things any better. EXT.

HERRICK HOUSE, DAY

Herrick parks the Corvair in the driveway of a small house. As he gets out of the car and enters the house his briefcase seems to drag him down. It's been a long day. INT. HERRICK HOUSE IRIS HERRICK, 20's and pretty, hair always mussed, kneels behind a tripod-mounted camera. Low to the floor, the focus of the camera is a baby on a scrap of carpet. The living room of the house is a photography studio, lights set up, a large paper backdrop hanging from one wall -everything crowded among a huge record collection and a small piano. The baby wails, tears streaming down it's red face. mother waits in the doorway.

The

MOTHER I don't understand this at all. He's usually such a happy baby. Iris and the mother try to amuse the baby, but to no avail. Herrick enters, takes a look at the bawling kid HERRICK Perfect. He drops his briefcase. Iris gives him a peck on the cheek. The mother shakes a rattle at the baby -- the baby grabs it and throws it in her face. IRIS How was your first day? HERRICK As expected. (MORE)


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HERRICK (CONT'D) I don't know what their last teacher was doing, but he wasn't teaching music. Well, actually, I do know what he was doing, but these kids don't know a barcarole from a barber shop quartet. He goes into the bathroom and walks over to the sink -- there is a pan of developer in it. There is another on the back of the toilet. The shower has a string of 8 X 10's drying and the window has been blacked out. Herrick exits. Iris and the mother are making faces at the baby. like a banshee.

He screams

IRIS Carl, I don't know what a barcarole is. So, it wasn't a good day. How were the kids? HERRICK Dolts. A barcarole is a Venetian boating song. He goes into the kitchen and runs water in the sink. enlarger occupies the kitchen table.

An

IRIS At least your kids don't pee on you. Of course, it's only your first day. He washes his face, the splash of cold water is a relief. HERRICK Thanks a whole lot. Eyes closed, he feels around for a towel -- the rack is empty. Iris and the mother wave toys at the baby -- he tries for high 'C'. Herrick, feeling blindly for a towel, a doily, anything -walks toward the living room, trips over his briefcase and takes a header into the sofa. The baby stops crying -- and bursts into laughter. FLASH!

Iris snaps a few pictures. IRIS Thanks, hon!


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She tosses her husband a clean diaper and he wipes his face. INT. HERRICK HOUSE, NIGHT Herrick sits at the piano, composing. His dinner, halfeaten, lays on a TV tray next to him. Totally absorbed in making notations on the composing paper, he doesn't hear Iris, wearing a rubber apron over her clothes, come out of the redlit bathroom. She slips up behind him and kisses his ear. HERRICK Oooh, what is that perfume, madame? Eau de developer fluid? That always makes my blood race. IRIS I made thirty-two dollars today. (beat) Was it really so bad at school? It's a job. a job.

HERRICK That's what it is,

IRIS Well, it's only for two years. Then you can take a year off and write your little old heart out. After that, the New York Philharmonic and the world debut of Carl Herrick's "American Opus". Then a command performance for the President, the Queen of England... The Ed Sullivan Show. Then, someday, after all those years of struggle, if you're really lucky, you'll be able to hear your music on an elevator or in a dentist's office. She's teasing him -- she does it a lot. her. HERRICK With motivation like that how can I fail. IRIS You need some motivation? HERRICK Twelve more bars and I'm your fella.

He smiles and kisses


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IRIS You're my fella no matter how many bars you hang out in. She kisses him again and goes back to the bathroom. back to the piano.

He turns

INT. MUSIC ROOM, DAY Herrick teaches his class. HERRICK If you combine two or more melodies within a composition you are using what is called a counterpoint. There are a variety of types of counterpoint... He goes through the motions -- the students do even less. INT. HERRICK HOUSE, NIGHT Iris works at the kitchen table, hand tinting a black and white baby picture. Herrick sits at the piano, trying to work. He stretches, goes over to his record collection and finds an album. He puts it on the stereo and plays some early Lester Young -then a little Dave Brubeck -- tasty jazz. He listens to only a few bars, then hurries back to the piano and plays. The few notes don't copy Young and Brubeck, but take the music to another level. He makes notations, totally absorbed. Iris watches him and smiles. INT.

REHEARSAL ROOM, DAY

A kid does the scales on his trombone. Herrick listens with all the patience he can muster, one eye on the clock. HERRICK All right, all right, Perry. Nice tones, but you need a little work on the right hand. Practice the right hand so it flows. You're jerking to each note -flow. The kid packs up and leaves. Herrick slumps, worn out.


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HERRICK Two years, two years... Only two years. There is a knock at the open door. Herrick looks up at GERTRUDE VAN LENTE, 16, thick glasses, body like a broom handle. HERRICK Can I help you? GERTRUDE I'm Gertrude Van Lente. I'm going to learn to play the clarinet. HERRICK Do you have a clarinet, Miss Van Lente? GERTRUDE I had my daddy buy me one. She opens a case and shows him her clarinet. HERRICK This is a very beautiful instrument. Why did you pick it? The clarinet? GERTRUDE I saw one on Lawrence Welk. It was pretty -- the sound, I mean. HERRICK That's as good a reason as any. What instruments have you played before? GERTRUDE None, I can't even read music. But I'm determined. Herrick sighs. INT. HERRICK HOUSE, NIGHT Herrick is at the stereo -- first a little of Dvorak's "American Quartet", then some "An American in Paris" by Gershwin. He goes back to his manuscript and reads. Grimacing, he rolls it into a ball and throws it across the room -- hitting


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Iris in the chest as she enters the room with her camera and equipment bag. IRIS Nice to see you, too. HERRICK Ah... I just spent three days ripping off Dvorak and Gershwin. IRIS Well if you don't tell, I won't either. I brought you some wedding cake. She puts away her cameras and equipment. HERRICK How was it? IRIS The groom was nervous, the bride was scared. The mothers cried, the fathers got smashed, I took pictures and fought off the best man. It was fun. How was your day? HERRICK I start orchestra auditions tomorrow. I have no strings or woodwinds. I've got an accordion that I'm sure of, if I can figure out how to fit an accordion into an orchestra -- oh, and a third year tuba who's transferred from another school. IRIS Well, you could always play polkas. That gets a smile from him. INT. GYMNASIUM, DAY There is a stage at one end of the gym, a circle of aspiring musicians in chairs on it and music stands. Herrick tries to conduct the auditions. It is a music lover's hell. The notes are flat, discordant, downright ugly. Then a flutist plays sweetly enough to bring a smile to Herrick's face. But right after that is a trumpet player who bleats like an injured goat. And it goes on and on.


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Gertrude tries out and fails -- she has a long way to go. The accordion player beams as he lays into "Lady of Spain". Herrick just watches, frowning. The kid stops, puzzled, then launches into a polka, grinning hugely. Herrick grabs the accordion to stop him. INT. MUSIC ROOM, DAY Herrick passes out graded test papers. HERRICK I'm very disappointed in the whole lot of you. These papers are... dismal... This is all simple stuff, basic music history and theory... The kids look at their grades with the same disgust. HERRICK What's going on here? Am I talking to myself? I might as well be. Herrick sits behind his desk and looks at the kids. stare back in rebellion.

A few

HERRICK Fine, this works. Why mess around with all of that paperwork for nothing? I'll stare at you and you stare at me and we'll accomplish just about as much as when I lecture. Your grade point might even improve. The silence goes on for a long, uncomfortable moment. are saved by the bell.

They

HERRICK Class dismissed. You can go, but I expect things to be different tomorrow. Understand me? It falls on deaf ears. The room is vacated instantly and Herrick packs up his briefcase and leaves. INT. KENNEDY HIGH The hall is emptying quickly, kids grabbing their jackets, slamming locker doors, full of energy for leaving. Hey, school's out.


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Herrick passes the rehearsal rooms, two cramped, sound-proof rooms -- semi-sound-proof. He hears the pained notes of a clarinet. Herrick opens the door and sees Gertrude. HERRICK Give it up, Miss Van Lente, school's out. Herrick startles her. He smiles and closes the door. The clarinet scales continue as he walks away quickly. Principal Wolters stops him. WOLTERS Mr. Herrick, just the man I was looking for. We are forming a textbook committee for next year's curriculum and I was hoping for your ideas. HERRICK Is this voluntary or required? WOLTERS It's totally voluntary, but most important, Mr. Herrick. HERRICK Then I pass, Mr. Wolters. I have a rule -- unless I get paid for it I don't do it. WOLTERS Mr. Herrick, do you have another job after school hours? I know a teacher's salary isn't what it should be, but... HERRICK No, I don't have a second job and I agree on the salary. Can I go now? WOLTERS I've been watching you, Mr. Herrick. It's my job to keep an eye on my teachers. I've never seen a teacher who ran out of here after the last period with the enthusiasm of one of our students. I wish I could observe some of that enthusiasm in your classroom work.


HERRICK Mr. Wolters, I write at night -compose. I'm writing a symphony. I'm here on time in the morning and I do my job. WOLTERS Teaching is a twenty-four hour job, Mr. Herrick. HERRICK Not unless you pay me for it, Mr. Wolters. Good night. Herrick starts to walk away. Mr. Herrick! excused yet.

WOLTERS You haven't been

Herrick stops and looks at Wolters. HERRICK Am I being made to stay after school? WOLTERS I was wrong about this being a job -- teaching is more. These young people, your students, are at a crossroads in their lives. Confused, hormones going berserk, faced with monumental decisions that will change their lives forever. And we try to pump them full of dates and formulas, figures and data, that have little to do with real life -- very little of it takes. (beat) But it all adds up ... to a human being with wants, needs, ideals, and hopes. You have two jobs. Pump them full of data, music data in your case. And give them a compass. Point them in the right direction so it doesn't all go to waste. You manage to do that and they will remember you for the rest of their lives. I don't know how you're doing with the data input, but as a compass you're useless.

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HERRICK Am I dismissed yet? WOLTERS Do both of your jobs, Mr. Herrick. Teaching is a calling, a... HERRICK Well, I don't hear the call, Mr. Wolters. If I may leave... Wolters lets Herrick pass. INT. HERRICK HOUSE, NIGHT Herrick makes meatloaf while Iris works with the enlarger. He massages the egg and bread crumbs into the hamburger with more vigor than necessary. HERRICK I hate that man and I hate his school. The work is boring and the kids are ignorant and determined to stay that way. IRIS Let me do that, Carl. HERRICK No, I can't write when I feel like this. I need to decompress. IRIS Well, it's taking longer for you to decompress every night. It's getting a little tired, hon. You don't see me grousing because I spend my days with bawling babies and persnickety mothers. HERRICK That's different, you like it. IRIS Yes, because I go into it saying I'm going to have fun. I look at every baby as if it's the first one I ever saw -- as if it were my own. And I pretend that every mother is my own -that way I don't slap her.


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Iris steps over to Herrick and puts her arms around him. IRIS Carl, you're not an old stuffed shirt, not yet anyway. You know more about the music these kids listen to than they do. And we've got the record collection to prove it. I know, I've toted it from apartment to apartment for three years. (beat) You're not that much older than them, but I've seen you in class. It's like you're some old fuddyduddy. HERRICK Fuddy-duddy? A fine thing to call your sex god. IRIS Don't try to change the topic to sex, not yet at least. You know what I'm saying -- you love music. But you sure can't tell it from your classes. Herrick is about to argue, but he stops himself. HERRICK I know ... I don't know what to do. IRIS You'll figure it out. You want to talk about sex now? HERRICK I'd rather do... The doorbell rings. Iris and Herrick look at each other. The doorbell repeats. Herrick raises his meatloaf-covered hands. Iris goes to the door and returns with Gertrude Van Lente. HERRICK (surprised) Miss Van Lente... GERTRUDE Good evening, Mr. Herrick. I hope I'm not bothering you...


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HERRICK Not at all. Iris, this is Gertrude Van Lente. Gertrude, this is Iris, my wife. Herrick wipes off his hands and leads Gertrude into the living room. Iris looks at him, questioning. He shrugs back. Gertrude walks over to the piano. She touches the keys absently, looks at the sheet music. GERTRUDE Did you write this? HERRICK Yes, it's a symphony I'm composing -- between meatloafs. GERTRUDE Oh... HERRICK Is there something you want.. GERTRUDE You're right, Mr. Herrick. I'm giving up the clarinet. I'm doing what you told me. It's for the best. HERRICK What I told you? GERTRUDE After school today. You said, "Give it up". So I am, will... HERRICK I meant for the day. GERTRUDE I know what you meant. I'm terrible, everybody says so. just wanted you to know...

I

HERRICK Well, if that's what you want to do... Gertrude breaks into tears and walks toward the door. Herrick pulls her back and into a chair. He looks to Iris for help. She holds up her hands helplessly. GERTRUDE Oh, Mr. Herrick, what can I do? I've got to learn something.


HERRICK It's not such a bad thing, just because you can't play the clarinet. Lots of people can't play any instrument. Gertrude gets up and looks at him, tears in her eyes. GERTRUDE You don't understand, you don't know my family. My sister dances, she has a ballet scholarship to Juilliard. My brother is the top-seeded tennis player in the state, sixth in the country. My mother has won the blue ribbon for watercolors at the State Fair so many times they've retired the category. My father sings tenor in the church choir and has sung the National Anthem at Tiger Stadium four times. And my name is Gertrude. Herrick is nonplussed for a moment. HERRICK You could call yourself Trudy. GERTRUDE Mr. Herrick, do I look like a Trudy? HERRICK Well, keep at the clarinet. You'll get there. GERTRUDE But all I make is noise. I do ray scales, I practice until my lips swell up, but it still doesn't sound like anything. HERRICK I've heard you play -- you're right, Gertrude. But ... well... one of your problems is that you only play the notes on the page. GERTRUDE What else am I supposed to play?

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He looks at her, then goes over to his record collection. He sifts through a stack of 45's -- puts one on the turntable. HERRICK There's more to music than the notes on the paper. He lowers the needle and the unmistakable sounds of "The Kingsmen" belting out "Louie, Louie" fill the room. Gertrude looks at the turntable, at Herrick, dumbfounded. HERRICK Listen. These fellas have absolutely no harmonic sense. They can't sing, the lead singer is yelling. They're playing the same boring three chords over and over and over. The recording sucks. The lyrics are awful when you can understand them, if you can hear them. This song is about a decibel away from being noise. But we love it. I love it! Do you love it? Gertrude nods.

Herrick is on a roll.

HERRICK Why? I'll tell you why. Because it has heart. These guys are playing with everything they have and they're having fun. They love it, so we love it. He takes one of Gertrude's hands and puts it over her heart. HERRICK Gertrude, you go home and pick up your clarinet and play from here. And who cares if it's not perfect? You'll move someone. Sometimes I play that piano and the only person I move is me. And you know what ... a lot of the time that's enough. Gertrude walks toward the door. GERTRUDE Thanks, Mr. Herrick.


HERRICK Hey, it's part of the job. She leaves.

Herrick turns to find Iris staring at him.

IRIS You live with someone, you sleep with them, do neat things under the covers ... and every once in a while you look at them and see why you ever went to a kegger with them. HERRICK Is that some kind of half-assed compliment? If so, I need proof. Proof?

IRIS I'll give you proof.

She hugs him. INT. SALVATION ARMY STORE, DAY Herrick carries a small record player to the counter and shows it to the woman at the cash register. HERRICK Does this work? WOMAN Sure does. Everything we sell has been reconditioned. HERRICK I'll take it. He takes out his wallet and pauses. HERRICK Uh, I'm the music teacher out at Kennedy High... There isn't some kind of discount, is there? It is for classroom use. WOMAN Grades my grandkids get I should charge you extra. Ten ... twenty percent off. He smiles and gives her the money.

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INT. MUSIC ROOM, DAY Herrick stands in front of the classroom of dull faces. HERRICK Put your textbooks away. Okay, how many of you like music? After a moment, a couple of hesitant hands are raised. HERRICK How many of you like the Beach Boys? The kids look at each other and all the hands go up. HERRICK How many of you like this Beach Boys song? He puts a .45 on the record player and "Surfin' USA" starts to play. The kids are roused from their trance. HERRICK How many of you knew that "Surfing, USA" was a rip-off of a song by Chuck Berry? He changes the record and "Sweet Little sixteen" plays. Some of the kids bounce to the music and all are paying attention. HERRICK How many of you like this song from a new English pop group called "The Animals? He plays "House of the Rising Sun". HERRICK Did you know that this is a copy of a version by Bob Dylan that Dylan based on a folk song by Josh White? This song may be over a hundred years old. (beat) Music has a history. Ours, American music, has a very proud history. Very little music stands alone. Every once in a while a musician comes along who is totally original, but most are influenced by their forebears, by every song they (MORE)


HERRICK (CONT'D) ever heard, whether they know it or not. They have a history of music that they absorb and transform and give to you. You have a history of music that you're not even aware of. We are going to explore that history. You may think this is unique... He lays the needle on "Surfin' Bird" by the Trashmen. HERRICK ... but I can show you a direct link from the jazz scat singers of the 30's to the doo-wop sound of the 50's and 60's to this. He lets the song play for a moment. HERRICK This catchy but inane repetition of "bird, bird, bird, bird is a word" disintegrates into "boppaboppa-boppa-boppa-oo-mau-maumau-boppa-oo-mau-mau-mau..." He takes the needle off. HERRICK Well, maybe that's a bigger leap of style than we should attempt right now. Let's go back to the Beach Boys and Chuck Berry. Chuck Berry is one of the founders of rock and roll. Rock and roll has its' origins in rhythm and blues. They go back to the blues. So today we will explore the blues. He puts on an old Muddy Waters song. HERRICK One of the characteristics of the blues is that it uses the diatonic scale. He starts writing on the blackboard. HERRICK These are any of the major or minor scales, but staying in (MORE)

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HERRICK (CONT'D) that key. The blue notes are flattened notes, usually thirds or sevenths, but I'm getting ahead of myself. The opposite of the diatonic scale is the chromatic scale. We've covered this already -- does anyone know what a chromatic scale is? He turns from the board and sees several eager hands go up. He smiles -- this could be fun. MONTAGE -Gertrude's fingers work the valves of her clarinet, going through the scales. "C" is a bit tentative and falls somewhat flat. Herrick gets his class up to dance, chiding, begging, ordering them to their feet as The Beach Boys' "Dance, Dance, Dance" plays. One lumbering boy attempts the Twist, all the jokes about jockey shorts riding up apply to him. HERRICK Everybody watch Perry! C'mon, Perry, dance! That's it. Watch his arms. One! Two! Three! Four! Count with me. That's the time signature -- four-four! Even Herrick dances a little. Gertrude tries for "D" -- better. Herrick in the practice room with a trumpet, a violin, drums, flute, cymbals, and so on. He coaches, cajoles, and teases the musicians into giving their all to every note. Gertrude goes for an "E" -- not bad at all. Herrick writes at home. Iris is photographing twins. She can't get them to look at the camera at the same time. Herrick fills the manuscript paper with note after note. Gertrude searches for "F" -- it takes a while. The student orchestra assembled in the gymnasium, their instruments poised for Herrick's direction. HERRICK Classical music ... ugh. (MORE)


25.

HERRICK (CONT'D) Classical ... boring, dull, dusty... Rossini, who is f Who cares? William Tell Overture, no fun there... Think again -- the Lone Ranger! And he swings the baton. The kids light into the music with enthusiasm, if not technical skill. You can almost hear "Hiyo, Silver!" Gertrude hits a "G" -- right on the spot. A basketball game. Herrick sits in the stands with a small contingent of horns. They let loose a fanfare at every Kennedy High Hawkeye basket. Iris, a big fan, cheers the team on. The opposing side makes a basket. The trombone player gives out a lone fanfare. Iris glares at Herrick. He jams the mute into the trombone. Gertrude hits an "A" -- clear, clean, beautiful. Herrick works at the piano, writing, searching for the right "A" himself. END MONTAGE. INT.

GYMNASIUM, DAY

Gertrude goes through the scales -- sitting on the stage with the student orchestra. A banner hangs above the stage -- "Good Luck Class of '65". The graduating class in their caps and gowns, the parents in their Sunday best in chairs arranged on the floor in front of the stage. On the stage with the school orchestra, are the teachers and speakers. Principal Wolters is at the podium. WOLTERS Before the ceremony Mr. Herrick will lead the Kennedy High School orchestra in a rendition of the Class of 1965's song, "Moon River". Herrick takes his position in front of the orchestra, lifts his baton, and leads the students in the song. Not bad, not bad at all. Iris watches from the audience. Herrick's eye and smiles.

Principal Wolters catches


26.

Gertrude Van Lente stands for the solo and plays it -- from the heart. INT. MUSIC ROOM, DAY - 1994 Herrick puts "Moon River" in the box with the other records. He looks up and sees TED BOS, a man in blue twill work clothes. BOS (uncomfortably) Mr. Herrick, remember me? Ted Bos? I'm one of the bus drivers. I never took your music classes, but you taught me Drivers Ed... ? HERRICK Class of '67 ... ? BOS '65. But I graduated in '67, so you're right there. HERRICK '65... We wrecked three cars that year, some kind of record. BOS I always wondered why anyone would teach Drivers Ed, they'd have to be suicidal or something. HERRICK I was probably desperate for the money. I needed every dime I could get back then. BOS I know the feeling. Well... I just wanted to say ... I heard you was leaving and ... well, shit... Thanks. Bos offers his hand and they shake. BOS My girl took band with you. Played the viola, still does. It's ... pretty. I was hoping her daughter would take it up, too... Well, I just wanted to, you know, say thanks...


27.

Bos leaves and Herrick looks at the empty doorway for a second, then goes to the locker. He pulls out a weathered, beaten sign -- "Student Driver". MONTAGE -- COUNTRY ROAD, DAY A '65 Plymouth with a "Student Driver" sign attached to the trunk hops down the street. Yes, hops! Gas!

Brake!

Gas!

Brake!

We all did this.

On the side door is another sign. "This car courtesy of Nolin Chrysler/Plymouth - Haviland, Michigan." "Drag City" by Jan and Dean plays. Trying to parallel park, student jumps the curb. A student piles a line of orange cones that make an obstacle course under the nose of the car. A student makes a turn -- the wrong way onto a one-way street! Herrick's foot hits the brake on his side of the car. The car pulls out of a driveway -- right into the path of a semi. The semi driver stomps on the brakes. The huge truck slides to a stop, just kissing the fender of the Plymouth. A student, using the rearview mirror, steps on the gas - and lurches forward. There is a crash. Gears grind -- first, second, third -- and reverse. The Drivers Ed car winds up -- in a ditch -- on a lawn -- on top of a parking meter -- against a telephone pole -- stalled on the railroad tracks (of course, a train is coming). Parking in the school lot, a female student loses control, feet scramble for the right pedals -- crash! Herrick's Corvair has been hit. Herrick jumps out and stands in front of the Drivers Ed car. HERRICK Just hit me! Just run me over! Put it in gear, step on the gas, and just now me down! What's stopping you?! The gas is the one on the right! The female student starts to cry. and gets back into the car.

Herrick feels like a shit

A student practices in an empty parking lot. Backing into a parking space, the car hits a three-foot retaining wall. A six-foot section goes down.


28.

Then, like dominoes, the rest of the wall falls, 120 feet of cinderblock topples. END MONTAGE. INT. HERRICK HOUSE, DAY Herrick is concentrating at the piano. Iris is trying to take pictures of a reluctant Chihuahua with a bow on its head and another on its tail. The door bell rings. Herrick and Iris look at each other. He looks down at the keyboard meaningfully. She gestures at the dog. They do "paper-scissors-rock". He loses. He sneers at the dog and goes to the door. It is the female student from the parking lot. She beams as she shows him her new drivers license. Herrick opens the screen door and the student peck on the cheek. Then she runs down to the new Volkswagon Beetle. Herrick smiles as she hears screeching tires and honking horns. He head and goes back inside. EXT.

gives him a street and her drives away, shakes his

KENNEDY HIGH, DAY

Herrick pulls up and parks his dented Corvair. Students in their new school clothes wave and shout greetings. INT. MUSIC ROOM, DAY Herrick hangs the photographs of Stephen Foster, George Gershwin, Art Tatum, Chuck Berry, Dizzy Gillespie, and The Beach Boys as the students file in. The bell rings. HERRICK My name is Carl Herrick. This class is Music Theory and History. If that isn't written on your schedule for the first period you might as well leave and miss the boring speech. One kid gets up and slinks out. Herrick hands a sheet of paper to the student at the end of the first row. HERRICK The rest of you sign in here, first name, middle initial, last name. (MORE)


29.

HERRICK (CONT'D) (beat) In this class we will study the history of music. Not just that classical long-hair stuff, but American music, too. Folk, blues, rock, jazz, country, and pop. Some of these forms are uniquely American, but our study will be unbiased. All music is good music. Some is formal, some is complicated, some even more complicated, but remember ... music is communication. Not necessarily communication of information, but of emotion, feeling, mood. And if any piece of music, any type of music makes you feel something -- it works. Now, how many of you like this new British group, the Beatles? All the hands shoot up. HERRICK Well, before the Beatles wrote "Yesterday", "Help", "A Hard Day's Night", or any of their other great songs, they covered -remade -- songs by other people. How many of you have heard this song? He puts the needle down on "Roll over Beethoven" and lets it play for a moment. HERRICK This is their cover of a song by Chuck Berry. He plays a minute of the Chuck Berry version. HERRICK Chuck Berry is one of the fathers of rock and roll. He comes from a background influenced by country and blues. Now the blues, twelvebar blues, is a form of music quite unique to America. One of the characteristics of the blues is the use of the diatonic scale... He starts writing on the blackboard.


30.

INT. CAFETERIA, DAY The teachers' table is full. WOLTERS Mr. Herrick, there have been a few complaints about you teaching the students this rock and roll junk... HERRICK Complaints, from who? WOLTERS Whom. This is a very conservative little town, Mr. Herrick... You! Wooley! Come here! One of the boys freezes in his tracks like a deer in a headlight. He walks over to Principal Wolters, who grabs a wisp of hair on the boy's neck. WOLTERS A haircut by first period tomorrow or you're out. Nothing over the collar or below the eyebrows. Get a haircut or a dog license. WOOLEY Yes, Mr. Wolters. The kid makes his escape and Wolters turns back to Herrick. WOLTERS It's not that I'm interfering in your curriculum, Mr. Herrick, but I do have to answer to the School Board and the parents. Give me an answer for them, Mr. Herrick. HERRICK Tell them I teach music. And I use any form of music that will get a student to listen. Everything from the Beatles to Beethoven. WOLTERS That's a good answer, Mr. Herrick. I can tell them that. Thank you. Miss Fenning! (MORE)


31.

WOLTERS (CONT'D) Is that lipstick or is your mouth bleeding?! Miss Fenning! He holds out a paper napkin to the offending teen. her mouth. Herrick starts away.

She wipes

WOLTERS One other thing, Mr. Herrick... Herrick grimaces and stops. INT. HERRICK HOUSE, DAY Herrick bursts inside, dumps his briefcase, and hurries over to a book shelf. Iris sits on the sofa, head in her hands. quickly through the books.

Herrick shuffles

HERRICK Hi, hon. That bastard Wolters dumped one on me at lunch today. He wants a Kennedy High Marching Band! A marching band! I never took that course. My roommate comped it for me 'cause I had a gig at a jazz club. I've got a book here somewhere... A marching band. I never even saw "The Music Man". He finally notices Iris. She gets up from the sofa, tears in her eyes, and runs out of the room. Baffled, Herrick follows her. EXT. BACK PORCH, DAY Iris sits on the steps, crying. Herrick sits next to her and puts an arm around her shoulders. HERRICK What's wrong, hon? Bad day at the baby factory? That makes her cry louder. IRIS I ... we ... we're ... I don't know what happened ... I did everything... I'm pregnant! Herrick is stunned.


IRIS I took the pills every day. I never missed a day. They say they're almost one hundred percent effective ... I never thought... "almost" ... HERRICK A baby ... ? IRIS I'm so sorry, Carl... HERRICK Sorry ... ? Iris, don't be sorry. We're gonna have a baby -a baby. (beat) You don't want a baby? I want a baby. Wow ... a baby. IRIS You don't mean that, I know. We were going to wait until you finished the symphony. HERRICK So I work another year... A baby... IRIS I don't believe you. HERRICK Iris, believe me. This is great news. IRIS You're just saying that. HERRICK Iris, honey... Remember when I told you about hearing John Coletrane when I was fifteen ... ? IRIS It was your birthday, yeah, yeah. What's that old story got to do with... HERRICK Just let me finish. (MORE)

32.


33.

HERRICK (CONT'D) My father, in his esteemed wisdom, got me a gift certificate at the record store. I ran down there and got as many of the latest records as I could. One was by John Coletrane. I played the others.. "Heartbreak Hotel", Gogi Grant, "The Wayward Wind", the new Platters song, I loved The Platters. Then I put on the Coletrane. I wasn't sure who he was, but the guy at the record store said he knew I'd like it. He knew I'd like it. (beat) It changed my life. No offense, but not even marrying you has had the same effect on me. IRIS I know that -- it's my cross to bear. But... HERRICK Let me finish. Three notes from that horn, that golden horn, and I knew that I wanted to be a musician. That's what I'd do with my life, create music. And that I'd be a great musician someday. IRIS You are, Carl, but... He shushes her with a finger to her lips, then cups her face in his hands and looks into her eyes. HERRICK Iris, when you just said we were going to have a baby I got that same feeling -- like I was hearing Coletrane's horn for the first time again. IRIS Aww, honey She bursts into tears again and wraps her arms around Herrick. HERRICK And now you're crying again. What ... ?


34.

IRIS Oh, shut up. And she kisses him. HERRICK What I'm trying to say... IRIS I know what you're trying to say. Maybe it's a lie, maybe not... I'm not in the best condition to tell. But if it is... it's the best, sweetest, most beautiful lie you've ever told me and I love you for it. They hold each other for a long time. EXT. FOOTBALL FIELD, DAY The potential band members, with instruments, are standing in rows at one end of the field. The football team practices at the other end. Herrick tries to line them up according to the book, trombones in one row, drums at the back, etc., but the rows won't come out even and he gives up on that. He takes his position at the front of the band, raises the baton, and gives the signal to march. The kids start walking, some left foot first, some right. It looks like hell. He stops them and tries again -- a little better -- a little better still -- until they finally march in unison. Herrick orders a left turn -- immediate chaos. Kids hit each other with their instruments, trip over their own feet, and pretty soon the whole band is down. The football players laugh. Herrick gets them to set their instruments aside, then back in rows. They start marching once more. He orders a right turn -- more chaos, even without instruments. Herrick sighs, this is going to be a long road. The football players start to heckle, but Meister shuts them up and walks down the field to Herrick. MEISTER I was three years in the Army, marched my keester off. (MORE)


35.

MEISTER (CONT'D) I can get them to march, but the rest is up to you. Meister lines the kids up. MEISTER (to kids) TEN-HUT! The kids look at him blankly. MEISTER (to Herrick) We got a long way to go. INT. MUSIC ROOM, DAY Herrick is hanging pictures of the Beatles.

Gertrude helps.

HERRICK I don't know. What I want to write is a symphony that will encompass every major form of American music. Melding classical motifs with rock and roll, jazz with tin pan alley. Five movements, some with lyrics, some without, but all celebrating the American musical idiom. Gershwin did the same thing in his time -- I'll do it in ours. GERTRUDE Good for you, Mr. Herrick. They finish and Herrick notices LOUIS RUS, a student, waiting patiently. RUS Mr. Herrick. GERTRUDE I gotta go, there's a student council meeting in five minutes. HERRICK (to Rus) What can I do for you, Mr... ? RUS Rus, Louie Rus. I gotta take some music thing. (MORE)


RUS (CONT'D) I'm College Prep and it's music or another foreign language. I already flunked German, Spanish, and Latin, what's the point in trying French? So my counselor okayed music as a kinda substitute for a language. HERRICK It's late in the term to catch up on "Theory and History". RUS I can't do none of that, I want to play something. That counts as music, don't it? HERRICK Yes, but ... you need to learn some fundamentals. RUS Look, Mr. Herrick, I'll work hard. I know how to work, I'm just not a school kind of person. I don't learn things easy and if I get into college it'll be on a wrestling scholarship. I'm not a brain, I'm a jock, that's it. Let me learn the drum, one of those big ones. A drum? horn?

HERRICK A big one?

Why not a

RUS No fruity instruments. HERRICK A tuba then. RUS Tuba's for fat guys with pimples. HERRICK Trombone, I need another trombone. RUS Twerps. HERRICK A triangle -- ding!

36.


37.

Rus just glares at him. RUS A drum, something I can just bang on. Hell ... heck, even I can do that. Give me a chance, Mr. Herrick. My counselor, Mr. Meister's just about given up, you're my last chance. I'll work hard. Herrick looks at the kid. HERRICK I could use another drummer. INT. HERRICK HOUSE, NIGHT Herrick is doodling at the piano. Iris enters with several photographs that she begins to frame and package. IRIS There was a point there I thought if I never saw another baby again I'd be a happy camper. Now... You're not writing. HERRICK I've settled on three names. Tatum, after Art Tatum, of course. Coletrane ... how's that sound? Coletrane Herrick. IRIS Like a wrestler. HERRICK And Dizzy, after my man Dizzy Gillespie. IRIS I thought we settled this "Dizzy" thing. A kid has enough problems without a handicap like that. And if it's a girl? HERRICK I thought of that, too! Lena, Eartha or, of course, Ella. Need I say more? IRIS I like Ella. (MORE)


38.

IRIS (CONT'D) If it's a boy we'll call him Kodak or Minolta. I got it, I got it -- we'll call him Polaroid, Roid for short. HERRICK You're not taking this seriously. I guess not.

IRIS Maybe I'm Dizzy.

INT. REHEARSAL ROOM, DAY The school orchestra is assembled with Louie Rus on the bass drum next to the kettle drum player. The music is Beethoven's First and it's going okay -- until Rus hits the drum. BOOM! Herrick waves his baton and stops the music. HERRICK You're early, Mr. Rus. Again, pick it up at bar twenty-four. He waves the baton and the next few bars go well. stops them again.

Herrick

HERRICK Where were you, Mr. Rus? RUS Sorry. HERRICK And Miss Lubbers, could you find a key closer to the one the rest of us are using? Thank you. People, let's try to start together. Again, from bar twentyfour. He waves the baton and it goes swimmingly for a moment, Miss Lubbers concentrating like the dickens, Rus looking baffled. BOOM!

BOOM!

Herrick throws the baton into the air. apart.

The musicians fall

HERRICK Mr. Rus, if you would, please. Let's walk and talk. Rus leaves his drum and walks over to Herrick. Herrick puts an arm around his shoulder and walks him over to the corner.


39.

HERRICK Mr. Rus, I thought you said you could read music. RUS I can, when it has words. stuff's got no words.

This

Herrick looks like he just crapped a pineapple. INT. MUSIC ROOM, DAY It's Herrick and Rus alone. Herrick points to a musical staff he's put on the blackboard. HERRICK E - G - B - D - F... It's easy to remember. Every Good Boy Does Fine. F - A - C - E... Face, that's easy enough. Those are the notes. RUS It's like a code. HERRICK Exactly! And you have to know that code because it's telling you where to come in. RUS And bang the drum. HERRICK Exactly! EXT. KENNEDY HIGH, DAY There is snow everywhere. INT. GYMNASIUM, DAY The band marches across the gym floor in their stocking feet, without instruments. They aren't doing too bad. HERRICK Okay, let's try it with music. (to himself) And let the saints preserve us.


40.

INT. REHEARSAL ROOM, DAY Herrick is working with Rus. HERRICK Just sing the notes on the page. RUS I sing like shit ... sorry, Mr. Herrick. I sing like ... you know. HERRICK I'm not auditioning you for the Metropolitan opera. Just sing the notes. RUS Okay. HERRICK That's a sharp. Go on. EXT. HERRICK HOUSE, NIGHT Carolers walk from house to house singing Christmas carols. Herrick pulls into the driveway. INT. HERRICK HOUSE, NIGHT Iris is curled up asleep on the sofa under a pile of blankets. She looks pale and weak. The sound of Herrick entering wakes her up. He pulls off his gloves and coat. HERRICK Gotta get the heater fixed in that piece of junk. IRIS You're late. HERRICK I have this kid... He thinks he's dumb, so he is. Is he?

IRIS Dumb?

HERRICK I don't think so. Honey, are you okay?


41.

IRIS I don't know. At first I thought it was just more morning sickness, but... He puts a hand to her forehead. HERRICK You feel hot. You had anything to eat? IRIS I tried to get some lunch down, but it didn't stay. I'll fix something. She tries to get up, but he pushes her gently back down and looks at her neck. HERRICK Honey, you have little red spots. She pulls the blankets away and looks for herself. horrified.

She is

IRIS Oh, my god...! She doesn't know whether to cry or scream. INT. HAVILAND HOSPITAL, NIGHT Iris, wearing one of those stupid open-back gowns, sits on a gurney in an examination room. Herrick holds her hand. They are both nervous, worried. DR. WEITZMAN enters, friendly. WEITZMAN I'm afraid, Mr. Herrick, Mrs. Herrick, that it is rubella. HERRICK Jesus... It's been going around school, I could have brought it home. IRIS I could have caught it from any of the 'mothers or one of the babies... it's... What about our baby, Doctor?


42.

WEITZMAN It's ... definitely not the best news. You, Mrs. Herrick are at very little risk. On the other hand, the disease is known to cause damage to the fetus. The news tears Herrick's heart out. HERRICK What kind of damage? The Herricks look at each other and Iris clutches his arm. WEITZMAN Possible congenital heart disorder, or hearing loss... some are born blind... I'm telling you the worst prospects, but... it could be minor. It could be nothing, but... IRIS Whatever it is, we can handle it. Can't we, Carl? They look at each other, not so sure. INT. REHEARSAL ROOM, DAY Rus is ready in front of a music stand, drumstick in hand, big bass drum waiting. He reads the sheet music. RUS Da-da-da-da-da-de-de-dum.. Herrick isn't really listening. RUS Da-dum-da-dum-da-da-da... BOOM! Rus strikes the drum. attention. RUS Da-da-dum-dum-de. BOOM!

BOOM! RUS Da-da-da-daah!

Herrick is instantly paying


43.

BOOM! Rus laughs and beats out a celebratory riff on the big drum. HERRICK All right, all right! I don't see any notation calling for improvisation, Mr. Rus. RUS I did it! Wow! Hey, Mr. Herrick I can play this shit! Sorry, play this drum. HERRICK Yes, Mr. Rus, you can. Maybe you don't know it, but you've also learned a new language. A whole new language. Wow, I did.

RUS I have.

HERRICK Maybe all you wanted to do was bang on something, but you, sir, have learned a language. RUS Yeah! Wait'll my dad hears this shit... sorry, stuff. HERRICK There's nothing to be sorry about, Mr. Rus. Herrick catches some of Rust enthusiasm. INT. HERRICK HOUSE, NIGHT It is raining outside. Herrick works at the piano, his back to Iris. She is boxing up her photography chemicals and equipment. Her pregnancy is showing. HERRICK You don't have to do that, Iris. IRIS The chemicals can't be good for a growing baby. I'm just putting the cameras and equipment out of the way for now. Since I had the measles people haven't been bringing me their babies. (MORE)


44.

IRIS (CONT'D) Not that I blame them. I don't feel much like taking pictures of babies any... Herrick turns and sees her crying. arms.

He wraps Iris in his

EXT. MAIN STREET, DAY It is May and time for a parade. The sidewalks are lined with spectators, among them a very pregnant Iris, sitting in a lounge chair at the curb. A band marches down the street playing "Seventy-Six Trombones". The musicians are high-stepping, great-looking, all-American kids. They pause in front of Iris and do a few fancy steps and flourishes and move on -- very impressive. The people applaud enthusiastically. A float is next -- a salute to sugar beets. EXT.

SIDE STREET, DAY

Herrick runs around madly, trying to get the band together. HERRICK Strull! Where the hell is Strull?! Anybody... Doel, where did those brown shoes come from? The uniform is black shoes, you were given black shoes, where did those brown shoes come from?! Has anyone seen Strull?! Grossman, where's your music? Pay attention to it! Everybody stay calm. It's just like rehearsal, except for thousands of people out there. EXT. MAIN STREET, DAY Iris watches another band approach, playing the "Colonel Bogey March". Their maneuvers are intricate, weaving in and out of each other, pauses, deep bows, twirling their instruments in precision. They provide an exciting show -next week they'll be on Ed Sullivan. Major applause from the audience. Another float pulled by a John Deere tractor -- the National Pickle Harvesters Association.


45.

EXT. SIDE STREET, DAY Herrick has the kids in formation. HERRICK One, two, three, four, March! Instant chaos.

A waiting band and band master start to laugh.

HERRICK Hold it! Hold it! HOLD IT! All right, people, let's all take a deep breath, get back in formation. A parade official is waving them onto the parade route. Herrick turns on him. HERRICK WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN, DAMNIT! The band stares at him in surprise.

He smiles weakly.

EXT. MAIN STREET, DAY Iris and another pregnant woman are sharing cotton candy. Down the street come a majorette and two standard-bearers carrying a big cloth banner. John F. Kennedy High School Marching Band Haviland, Michigan The band isn't playing, they're concentrating on their marching. My, they do look spiffy in their new uniforms Herrick, in his matching band leader's uniform, winks at Iris. Herrick nods to the majorette. BAH! BAHMP!

BAH!

BAH!

She raises her baton.

BAHMP!

BAHMP! BAH!

BAHMP!

It's "Louie, Louie"'. The crowd goes nuts, applauding, cheering, yelling. And the Kennedy High School Marching Band parades down the street.


46.

Louis Rus is proud of himself, and rightly so. But Herrick is swelled up like a Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon. INT. GYMNASIUM, DAY Graduation day -- "Good Luck to the Class of 1966". Gertrude isn't with the orchestra, she's in cap and gown with the other graduates. But Louis Rus is in the orchestra. They play "Yesterday". EXT. COUNTY ROAD, DAY A '67 Plymouth careens down the road. It's the Drivers Ed car, there's that sign on the trunk. The car speeds through a stop sign. The music -- "Baby You Can Drive My Car". INT. PLYMOUTH, DAY Herrick is driving, a madman behind the wheel. DARYL is the student in the passenger seat. Two more students are in the back, one terrified, one getting off on the trip. DARYL That was a stop sign you went through back there, Mr. Herrick. Herrick ignores him. DARYL You are definitely speeding, Mr. Herrick, definitely. Oh, that's another stop sign. You cut that lady off back there. The car turns off the road and into the outskirts of a town. DARYL I don't think you can pass on the right, Mr. Herrick. Oh, my gosh ... this is a one-way street, Mr. Herrick. Mr. Hosta!

HERRICK Shut the hell up! DARYL

Shuts up.


47.

EXT. HAVILAND CITY HOSPITAL, DAY Herrick pulls to a stop in front of the hospital and runs inside. INT. MATERNITY WARD, DAY Herrick runs into the corridor, past the nursery -- skids to a stop, backs up, looks at the babies, realizes he won't be able to recognize his -- and runs to the nurses' station. INT. HOSPITAL ROOM, DAY Iris is propped up in bed, a baby in her arms, a nurse making a notation on her chart. Herrick bursts into the room, sees everything all right, and tries to calm himself. HERRICK Are you all right? I'm fine.

IRIS Come meet your son.

HERRICK A son...? I came as fast as I could, but we were all the way the other side of Allegan County. I called in and... A son ... ? IRIS My water broke and Wendy brought me to the hospital. It was easy, everybody's been telling me how lucky I am. HERRICK A son... Is he... IRIS He's fine. I counted all the toes and fingers. The doctor says he's perfect. HERRICK Perfect... He kisses her. There is a noise at the door. other two students. DARYL We can't get back to school.

Daryl and the


48.

HERRICK Keep the car, I'll manage. DARYL (sarcastic) We don't have licenses, Mr. Herrick. HERRICK Okay, okay, give me a few minutes. Come on in, Meet Coletrane Herrick. The kids take a look at the baby. Coletrane? is that?

DARYL What kind of name

HERRICK You're on thin ice, Daryl. IRIS I think just Cole will be fine. Herrick bends over to Look at his son. EXT. KENNEDY HIGH, DAY A school bus pulls up to the curb and unloads students. Fallen leaves litter the grass. The marquee is being erected on the lawn. INT. MUSIC ROOM, DAY The bell rings and the students settle in. smiling, full of enthusiasm.

Herrick is

HERRICK Welcome to Music Theory. Look at your schedule. If Music 101 isn't listed for this hour then it's your tough luck. INT. REHEARSAL ROOM, DAY Herrick and JILL LOHMAN, one of the students, are alone. The girl looks at the floor, at the walls, at her hands, never at Herrick.


HERRICK Your grades are excellent, Miss Lohman, excellent. But you never speak in class, not even when I call on you. The girls' counselor, Mrs. Ahlberg, says you won't talk even to her. As your faculty advisor I've been asked to help you, but I can't if you don't tell me what the problem is. She is silent. HERRICK Your grades prove you do the assignments... is there a problem at home. She shakes her head. HERRICK Are you afraid of something? She nods. HERRICK Really, what? The teachers, the other students? She nods again. HERRICK Which is it, the teachers or the students? C'mon, Miss Lohman. One word will make my day. Students or teachers? LOHMAN (softly) Both. The word is so low it could have been a sigh instead of a word. HERRICK Both? Both. Now we're getting somewhere. You're shy, aren't you, Miss Lohman? Shy ... that's not such a bad thing. Well, it can be when you think everyone is staring at you. I was shy when I was your age. She looks at him briefly.

49.


50.

HERRICK I was so shy I had a permanent crick in my neck from looking down to see if my fly was open She almost laughs. Here's a trick that worked for me. Every time you have to speak just look at the person you're addressing and imagine them naked. LOHMAN (softly) Naked... ? HERRICK Naked. It takes all the threat right out of their presence. LOHMAN Naked... HERRICK It worked for me, try it. She seems to be thinking seriously -- she finally nods. LOHMAN I will, Mr. Herrick. you.

Thank

There is a knock and Principal Wolters enters. gets up.

The girl

WOLTERS Good afternoon, Miss Lohman. How are we today? She lowers her eyes and starts to scurry past him. HERRICK Miss Lohman... She looks briefly at Herrick, then at the Principal. She looks him up and down, imagining. Wolters starts to frown under her focused gaze. She starts giggling. LOHMAN We are fine today, Mr. Wolters. And she scurries past him and out the door. Wolters looks at Herrick, who shrugs innocently.


51.

EXT. HERRICK HOUSE, NIGHT Fallen leaves have been raked into piles. INT. HERRICK HOUSE Herrick composes at the piano. Iris is making a cradle from an orange crate and two wooden coat hangers. The baby is in a floor-mounted baby swing, being rocked with Herrick's left foot. Herrick plays, slowly at first, then faster and faster. Preoccupied, he doesn't realize he's rocking the baby faster, too. Soon the baby is swinging like the tail of a happy pup. IRIS Carl! He is jerked out of his concentration. at the baby. Herrick stops the swing.

Iris points her hammer

IRIS Write a waltz. Herrick smiles and chucks the baby under the chin. HERRICK You kidding? This kid's got a rock and roll soul and a boogie woogie heart. Herrick goes back to work. EXT. TRAILER, DAY ED CLAYPOOL, a teenage boy, shovels snow on the long path from the weather-beaten trailer to the mail box on the road. Junk cars and tractors poke through the snow. Herrick pulls up in his Corvair and parks. The boy sees Herrick and runs back to the trailer. Herrick gets out of the car and sees the trailer door slam closed. He checks the mail box --"Claypool". Herrick wraps his scarf more tightly against the cold and walks up the driveway through the snow. He knocks on the trailer door. No one answers. Herrick sees the curtain at one of the windows move. knocks again.

He


52.

HERRICK Mr. Claypool, I know you're in there. I saw you shoveling snow. There is a muffled, desperate conversation inside, shuffling around. The door is opened. Seen up close, Ed Claypool needs a haircut, his clothes are too small, and he is most uncomfortable to see Herrick. ED Hi, Mr. Herrick. HERRICK Mr. Claypool, are your parents home? ED No, they got a couple days work in Benton Harbor. HERRICK Oh, what kind of work? ED They haul scrap, old cars and stuff. They got to pick it up in Benton Harbor and haul it to Pennsylvania, I think. We own our own truck. HERRICK That's nice. Could I come in? It's cold out here. ED I guess so. He opens the door for Herrick to enter. INT. TRAILER, DAY Ed Claypool comes from a poor family. Everything is worn and threadbare, the trailer cluttered. Ed is nervous, self conscious. Herrick takes off his gloves and scarf, opens his coat. HERRICK Heater in my car's worthless. He sits.

The boy sits.


53.

HERRICK We've missed you in school this week. ED Uh, I was sick ... a cold. Ed sniffles for effect.

Herrick is doubtful.

ED Maybe the flu... HERRICK Sure. But you seem okay today. (beat) Ed, you're a bright kid, and your grades are pretty good. But these unexplained absences have a terrible effect on your record. Mr. Wolters wants to expel you unless you can come up with a good excuse. Ed doesn't know how to respond. He looks at the floor. Herrick waits him out, also looking at the floor. Then he sees it -- Ed Claypool's shoes. Old, ratty tennis shoes with holes through the canvas, rubber peeling. In the relative warmth of the trailer the snow on them has melted and water squishes out of the holes. Ed sees Herrick staring at his shoes. he looks like he might cry.

He panics, embarrassed --

Herrick looks away self-consciously -- and sees EDNA, the boy's eight-year-old sister as she steps out of a small closet. EDNA I have to pee. She points toward the bathroom. Herrick can't help looking at her feet -- worn out tennis shoes. Herrick looks at Ed Claypool. INT. HERRICK HOUSE, NIGHT The baby rocks in the completed cradle. Iris has decorated it with daisy stickers and painted his name on the headboard. She's taking photographs of the baby while Herrick works at the piano.


54.

HERRICK The bus pick-up is a quartermile from their house. It seems that the little girl got frostbite walking home during the first cold snap. So the parents told them to stay home on real cold days. IRIS Couldn't the bus go the extra quarter-mile and pick them up? HERRICK I told Wolters about it. (beat) And I took them downtown and bought them each a pair of winter shoes. Okay ... ? Out of the "opus" fund. IRIS That's real nice, Carl. HERRICK I got them-some galoshes, too. IRIS It's your opus. HERRICK And a good winter coat. She takes a picture of him at the piano. HERRICK What was that for? IRIS Posterity. I think I'll send it to the National Geographic. A dying species -- the last real mensch. INT. GYMNASIUM, DAY Graduation day finds Herrick at his usual post on the stage with the orchestra. "Good Luck! Class of 1967!" Reads the banner. The orchestra finishes the last few strains of "To Sir, With Love". Wolters takes the podium. WOLTERS.


55.

And now, our Salutatorian, Jill Lohman. Miss Lohman takes the podium and waits for the applause to die down. LOHMAN Fellow graduates, our honored faculty, parents, friends... She looks into the audience -- and freezes. She sees them looking back at her. She averts her eyes, looks around the gym, at her notes. LOHMAN Panicky, she catches Herrick's eye. He takes a deep breath -so does she. She looks back at the audience -- and smiles. She looks back at Herrick -- and smiles. He crosses his legs and shifts in his chair. She turns back to the audience. LOHMAN I would like to begin by paraphrasing a popular rock song. So as not to offend the more conservative members of our audience I would like to remind them that this song was originally recorded by the folk singer, Pete Seeger. If even that offends you I'd like to point out that the words were taken from the Book of Ecclesiastes, the Old Testament. "To everything, there is a season, turn, turn, turn. And a time for every purpose under heaven. A time to gain, a time to lose. A time to rend, a time to sew. A time to love, a time to hate. A time for peace, I swear it's not too late... " She smiles at Herrick triumphantly. LOHMAN Fellow graduates, it is our time. We live in a country that has traveled to the moon twice, but only sixteen percent of black children in the south attend an integrated school. (MORE)


56.

LOHMAN (CONT'D) We have a generation of young people calling for peace while our country is at war in Southeast Asia... Give 'em, hell, Miss Lohman. INT. MUSIC ROOM, DAY Herrick, without his tie, is at the piano, working on his music. A girl knocks on the door and enters. GIRL Mr. Herrick, will you sign my yearbook? She is dressed for vacation in shorts and a T-shirt. HERRICK Sure. She opens the yearbook for him and he writes something. GIRL Oh, that's sweet. Thanks, Mr. Herrick. You have a good summer vacation. He nods, wanting to get back to his work. She leaves and he plays a couple notes on the piano. That's it. He's done! Herrick smiles at the pages of his composition. up the notated pages and walks out of the room.

He gathers

INT. HALLWAY Herrick's walk quickens and he is almost running by the time he reaches the Principal's Office. INT. PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE DONNA, a lone secretary is working at a desk. HERRICK Donna, use the phone? The request is perfunctory as he grabs the phone and dials.


57.

HERRICK (into phone) Iris! I finished it! The first movement! Oh, there's some notation that needs to be cleaned up, but damn, it's really done! Sorry, Donna. (beat) Well, I was thinking you could drop off Cole at the baby sitter and I'll stop downtown and pick up a bottle of wine... Herrick is self-conscious, even though Donna is trying not to listen in. HERRICK Whatever the sitter wants. Let's splurge a little. I'll stop by the record store and get some mood music. (beat) No, I know I don't need another album... Hon, we're celebrating! (beat) About an hour... see you! He hangs up, grins at Donna, and gives her an impulsive kiss. Donna is nonplussed -- she has never been kissed at work -ever. Herrick runs out. EXT. KENNEDY HIGH, DAY The marquee is being changed. Down with "Congratulations Class of "67" and up with "Drivers Education Program starts June 20". Herrick drives away from the school, top down, radio blaring, singing "Seventh Son" along with Johnny Rivers. EXT. HERRICK HOUSE, DAY The Corvair is parked in the driveway.. Iris pulls in behind it in her VW van. She gets out, checks her new hairdo, and enters the house. INT. HERRICK HOUSE Herrick sits on the sofa, his back to the doorway. On the coffee table are a bottle of wine and two glasses and the pages of music.


58.

IRIS Sorry I took so long, Carl, but I got my hair done so you can mess it up. She is flirty and girlish. Herrick turns to face her -- his eyes are rimmed in red, his face twisted in grief. IRIS Carl, what's wrong?! He gathers up the pages of music. HERRICK This. This! It's crap... junk... It's not worth the paper it's printed on. It's shit! IRIS Oh, honey, no it's not. I've heard some of it... You're just... HERRICK I know what I'm talking about. Listen... I got the new Beatles album. He goes over to the stereo, drops the needle on a record. The cover for "Sergeant Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band" is on the floor. The unmistakable strains of "A Day In the Life" begin. HERRICK Listen, listen... They did it... and it's great. Nothing I've written can ever come close to this. It's... perfect... And I wrote... crap... He shoves the pages of sheet music into a desk drawer -- he is destroyed. HERRICK They did it. Better than I ever could ... ever will... Iris puts her arms around him. the Life" plays on.

They are silent.

"A Day In


59.

MONTAGE -- STREETS & ROADS, DAY The music, "on the Road Again" by Canned Heat. The Drivers Ed car, the '67 Plymouth, frog hops along a street. Then a '68 Plymouth. END MONTAGE. INT. HERRICK HOUSE, NIGHT Iris is assembling wooden toys. No nails, no screws, just Elmer's glue and well-cut pieces. A few completed, brightly painted ones lay around the room. Herrick doodles on the piano with young Cole on his lap. Cole, a two-year-old, wears glasses. HERRICK I wonder if I can get the school board to let the band play something by Jimi Hendrix or Creedence ... or maybe Santana or Marvin Gaye. Something a little more modern. IRIS As long as it has no reference to drugs, sex, or teenage rebellion I think you'll be okay. She looks at him, a little worried. HERRICK Well, that just about cuts out everything but the Partridge Family and the Archies and I have my doubts about "Sugar, Sugar". What do you think, Cole, should we give them a little Howling Wolf? Herrick starts pounding out "Back Door Man", bouncing Cole up and down on his knee. Cole pounds on the keys with his little hands. HERRICK Look, Honey, he's got the beat. The kid's a natural, he's gonna be a musical genius. (MORE)


60.

HERRICK (CONT'D) It's all that music I played for him while you were pregnant, it's in his blood. Now appearing at Radio City Music Hall, Cole Gershwin Herrick! Ta-dah! Cole laughs. Iris walks over and lays a hand on Herrick's shoulder and waits for him to stop playing. IRIS Carl ... he's deaf. What?

HERRICK That's impossible.

IRIS The doctor finished the tests today. The measles ... he can't hear, at all -- and probably never will. Herrick looks at his son, disbelieving. HERRICK That's impossible. He puts the boy on the floor, stands behind him and claps his hands together sharply. Cole doesn't respond. Herrick tries it again -- nothing. Herrick stomps his feet. There!

Cole turns around.

HERRICK See, he heard me.

IRIS He felt the vibration through the floor, Carl. They ran all sorts of tests. He's deaf. Herrick slumps onto the piano bench, looking at Cole. Bam! He slams the cover over the piano keys. The boy doesn't respond. Herrick stares at the floor, destroyed. MONTAGE -- ROAD, DAY A '69 Plymouth -- jerking and jolting along the road with Canned Heat. A '70 Ford. A '70 Ford? Yes and the sign on the door is new. "This Drivers Education 1970 Ford Compliments of Alliance Ford".


61.

A '71 Plymouth -- Nolin Plymouth/Chrysler is back. END MONTAGE. INT. MUSIC ROOM, DAY The bust of Beethoven is wearing psychedelic paint. Herrick is talking to a class of new students. The class is becoming more ethnically mixed. HERRICK How many of you like classical music? A few tentative hands are raised -- brown-nosers. HERRICK What would you think if I told you that Procol Harum's "A Whiter Shade of Pale" is a new version of the Bach cantata, "Sleepers Awake"? How many of you like The Rolling Stones? He plays a couple bars of "Jumping Jack Flash". HERRICK How many of you know that this song was based on a Chuck Berry riff? He plays a little of Chuck Berry. HERRICK Chuck Berry is a rhythm and blues artist and the blues is a truly American form of music based upon the diatonic scale. The diatonic scale... Herrick turns to the blackboard and starts writing. YNTEMA (O.S.) How lame... Herrick turns back to the class. HERRICK Pardon me? YNTEMA Lame... I said what a lame way to get into scales.


62.

Herrick finds the sarcastic voice and the little snot named YNTEMA that it belongs to. He checks the seating chart. HERRICK Mr...Yntema, I am not here to be graded by you. You are here to be graded by me. Keep your criticisms to yourself. He goes back to the blackboard. INT. HERRICK HOUSE, NIGHT Herrick works at the desk. Iris enters with five-year-old Cole, cute as a bug in his little glasses, dressed up, hair slicked back. IRIS We're all ready! HERRICK I'm not. IRIS We'll wait, won't we, Cole. She chucks Cole under the chin. HERRICK Iris, you go ahead. I have to transpose all these parts for the homecoming concert. IRIS This is the second signing class you've missed... HERRICK I'll catch up. Iris stands there a second, debating whether to push it. All right. to Daddy. She signs to Cole. good-bye.

IRIS Cole, say good-bye

Cole signs to Herrick -- Herrick waves

INT. HALLWAY, DAY Herrick hurries toward the Principal's Office.


63.

INT. PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE Donna is typing.

It is raining outside.

Herrick enters.

HERRICK Mr. Walters wants to see me. DONNA Go right in, Mr. Herrick. Wolters sits at his desk writing. tending a bloody nose.

Yntema sits opposite him,

WOLTERS Mr. Herrick You're Mr. Yntema's counselor, aren't you? HERRICK I am? I, yes, I remember, he is one of mine. He never ... he and I ... haven't had many meetings. WOLTERS Schedule a few. Mr. Yntema has been fighting again. The next fight will involve a meeting with his parents and some disciplinary action. Take him out of here. Yntema stands and leaves with Herrick. INT. HALLWAY HERRICK You're supposed to meet with your counselor once a month. You've skipped every one of our sessions. YNTEMA I don't need any counselor, man. I know what I need and it isn't this school. HERRICK Look, Mr. Yntema, you're not making any friends among the teachers or staff -- obviously you're doing no better with the other students. Do you have problems at home?


64.

YNTEMA I got problems here. Look, when I left Grosse Pointe High they'd skipped me ahead a grade. Here, at Cowflop High they put me back. What did I do to deserve that? HERRICK I'm sorry, but Principal Wolters doesn't believe in skipping grades. He wants you to complete four years of high school. YNTEMA Christ, you get time off for good behavior even in prison. HERRICK Good behavior has not been your strong suit. YNTEMA I get all A's, don't I? That's all you should be interested in. The rest is my business. So leave me the hell alone. And he walks away.

Herrick, frustrated, lets him.

INT. HERRICK HOUSE, NIGHT Iris and Cole work on the wooden toys. Herrick grades papers. He pauses a moment and watches them signing to each other, fingers flying in conversation. They say something funny and both laugh. Herrick frowns and goes back to his papers. INT. MUSIC ROOM, DAY Herrick faces his class. HERRICK So, how can we tell what key a piece of music is written in? Hands go up. HERRICK Mr. Tidd...


65.

TIDD It's written on the front page. YNTEMA (laughing) What a dipstick. The rest of the class laughs and Tidd feels like shit. HERRICK You're so smart, Mr. Yntema, go ahead and tell us. YNTEMA You count the number of flats and sharps next to the time signature. It's the correct answer, but it doesn't please Herrick. HERRICK Fine... Are there any other ways? Several hands go up. Yntema looks at the others smugly, inviting someone to wipe away his smirk with a fist. INT. MUSIC ROOM, LATER The bell rings. HERRICK Page 280 to 314 for tomorrow. Mr. Yntema, I'd like a word with you. Yntema, halfway to the door, saunters back. until the others have left. HERRICK Mr. Yntema, I'm damn sick of your smart mouth. You're smart, everyone knows it, so shut the hell up unless I ask you a question. This is a music class and I'm the teacher. You pay attention... to me. YNTEMA What for? Look, I know all this already. I know more about music than any of these pinheads. I don't need this.

Herrick waits


66.

HERRICK Then maybe I should turn over the class to you, YNTEMA I wouldn't stoop that low. Right now Herrick would like to hit this smart ass. HERRICK I'm about this close to suspending you, Mr. Yntema. YNTEMA Look, Mr. Herrick, I can play my scales backward and forward. He demonstrates on the piano. YNTEMA I can recite all the names and dates you want. I know the Lydian mode, the Ambrosian chant modes, the Gregorian modes. I know the difference between invertible counterpoint, strict and free counterpoint. Just give me the final and let me out of here. HERRICK Music is more than that, it's a language of emotion. YNTEMA Bullshit. Herrick is pissed. A student pokes her head in the door, enters and gives Herrick a note. He glares at Yntema, fixing him on the spot, and reads the note. The energy drains out of Herrick. He looks at the girl who waits expectantly. HERRICK Please tell Mr. Wolters I'll take care of it. I'll probably send Bobby Tidd. YNTEMA The dipstick. Herrick turns on Yntema so fast that Yntema ducks. Herrick might hit him, wants to, but ... takes a breath. The girl leaves.


67.

HERRICK Watch your mouth, Mr. Yntema. YNTEMA Look, I know this is a Liberal Arts program, but I'm a Math major. I plan to get my college degree in economics. I already have twelve college credits from summer school. HERRICK We're talking about music. YNTEMA I know, the language of emotion and that whole yawn. You know what I think, Mr. Herrick, emotions are part of our Neanderthal past. We don't need them. They just get in the way of progress. We should get rid of them -- and we certainly don't need a language for them. Herrick is primed to argue, but looks at the note and stops himself. HERRICK Meet me here tomorrow at ten a.m. YNTEMA But tomorrow's Saturday. HERRICK Be here tomorrow or you've just gotten your first "D", Mr. Yntema. For attitude. YNTEMA You can't do that. HERRICK Try me. Yntema looks at Herrick for a moment, decides not to press his luck, and leaves. Herrick falls into his chair and stares at the note.


68.

EXT. KENNEDY HIGH, DAY It is Fall. Yntema waits by himself in front of the deserted school. Herrick pulls up in the VW van and Yntema gets in. EXT. HAVILAND CEMETERY, DAY A military funeral, flag-draped coffin, color guard. Family and friends are gathered around the grave. Herrick leads Yntema to within a few yards. YNTEMA What are we doing here? HERRICK Just be quiet and listen. The minister speaks in a low voice, the service already in progress. Meister, in an ill-fitting suit, walks over to Herrick. His hairline is starting to recede. MEISTER (noting Yntema) Damn, Carl, you are a glutton for punishment. Meister and Herrick look over at the mourners. MEISTER Too bad ... Louie Rus. He was on the wrestling team, you know. Letter man three years running. Good kid. HERRICK I know. He sent me a letter only ... two months ago. He was learning Vietnamese. MEISTER What a waste. I'm thinking Miss Wooley might be right about this war. What a waste. See you at the house. Meister walks away. YNTEMA Who was this guy? The one ... you know. HERRICK Just some kid I taught to bang on a drum.


69.

The minister finishes a poem, "In Flanders Fields", by John McCrae. Gunshots! The salute from the honor guard. startles everyone. "Taps" plays. away.

The noise

It is Bobby Tidd on a rise a short distance

Everyone cries. The stolid father, the drained mother, the young wife with her child in his best Sunday suit. Family and friends -- even Yntema. HERRICK That's Bobby Tidd on the bugle ... the dipstick. He's not as smart as you are. He's not that good on the horn, either, he's lucky that bugle has only one key. But he's playing well today. "Taps" dies away. HERRICK Louie Rus was his cousin. But the point is ... that music moved everyone. You didn't even know Louie Rus and you had a tear in your eye. Don't feel embarrassed. That music has had that effect for many, many years. It expresses what we are all feeling at this moment. It spoke to us -- for us. The flag is folded and presented to the widow. HERRICK The language of emotion. Louie Rus worked very hard to learn that language, very hard. Just because it's easy for you -don't cheapen it. Yntema looks away. HERRICK I think you owe Mr. Tidd an apology, maybe you don't... Do whatever you want. Just go away. I'd like some time alone with one of my former students.


The family and friends are leaving the grave. across the grass and stands next to it.

70.

Herrick walks

Yntema walks slowly over to where Bobby Tidd, in his best suit, sits on a headstone. Herrick looks over and sees Yntema offer Tidd his hand. They shake. Herrick stands at the grave for a moment. The grave diggers are waiting with their shovels. He finally notices them and walks away. Herrick walks through the cemetery, a small one, looking at the headstones. Many of them have a common thread -- a metallic American and Vietnamese flag crossed in the ground in front of the marker. The dates on the headstones show lives cut short. Young men cut down in the prime of their lives, one after the other. Herrick knew many of these young men. Finally, he can take no more. He sits on the ground and cries. INT. GYMNASIUM, DAY "Good Luck Class of 1972". A good number of the students wear black armbands over their graduation gowns, and buttons that say, "Stop the War". The ceremony is over and everyone is milling around. Back slapping, hugs, tears, handshakes, and kisses. Flashbulbs go off -- a Kodak contest. Herrick is grabbed by one student after the other to pose for a photo. Yntema and Tidd and other graduate run over and lift their robes to their thighs. YNTEMA/TIDD/GRADUATE We don't have pants on! And they run off looking for someone else to shock. WOLTERS They have their gym shorts on, I checked. HERRICK You're a braver man than I am, Gunga Din. Wolters takes Herrick aside. WOLTERS I want you to know that I won't be back next Fall. (MORE)


71.

WOLTERS (CONT'D) I've accepted the position of Superintendent of the Manistee County School District. Good fishing up there. (continuing) Don't tell anyone else, you're the only one I want to know right now. Let the others read it in the paper. HERRICK Why tell me? WOLTERS You're surprised? HERRICK Well, yes, as a matter of fact. WOLTERS I don't know why, Mr. Herrick, but -- you're my favorite teacher. Herrick is even more surprised. WOLTERS You're a hell of a teacher, Carl. That's why I gave you the hard cases, like Louie Rus, Jill Lohman, Ed Claypool, Yntema over there. HERRICK Well, thanks ... Mr. Wolters. You'll be missed -- I, uh, learned a lot from you. WOLTERS Always remember one thing, as long as they are dressed properly they will behave properly. Wolters slips a small box into Herrick's hand and melts away into the crowd. Herrick opens the box -- a small, gold compass. INT. MUSIC ROOM, DAY - 1994 Herrick looks at the scratched and battered compass on his key chain. One of the keys is poised at a desk drawer lock.


72.

The janitor, MR. FEJEDELEM, enters, wielding his dust mop across the tile floor. FEJEDELEM Mr. Herrick, you need some boxes or something? HERRICK No, I don't have much. Jay.

Thanks,

FEJEDELEM I saw you earlier ... thought I'd... Fejedelem looks around the room wistfully. FEJEDELEM You know, both me and my son took music from you in this room. Well, I always felt bad that I was such a pain in the ass when I was a kid. HERRICK Yeah, Jay, we all do things we regret later. We all wish we'd done some things differently. FEJEDELEM Yeah, I guess so. Anyway, we were kids then, right? That gives us some leeway. HERRICK That's right. FEJEDELEM Well, you take care. I'm around for a while if you change your mind about the boxes. Fejedelem dusts his way back out. Herrick continues sorting his things. He picks up the clear plastic paperweight with the dandelion puff suspended inside. He holds it up and looks at the delicate froth sealed forever. He smiles, then his eyes become sad. MONTAGE -- COUNTY ROAD, DAY A succession of Plymouths frog-hops through the years, to "Bad Motor Scooter" by Montrose.


73.

1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976. The sign on the 1976 car reads "Nolin Chrysler/Toyota" END MONTAGE. INT. HERRICK HOUSE, NIGHT The living room is clattered with Iris' latest business venture. There are jugs of liquid plastic resin, cans of acetone, and stacks of molds spread out on a table. Flowers dry suspended by their stems from a clothesline. Flowers are also being placed in flat tubs of silica gel and borax to dry. That's where Iris, Herrick, and ten-year-old Cole are working right now. IRIS You should have been there. The field was full of Queen Anne's lace and brown-eyed susans. Right in the middle was this purple thistle and Cole goes to get that when a partridge just bursts out of nowhere and scares the dickens out of both of us. You should have been there. HERRICK I told you we had a curriculum committee meeting. IRIS I know, I'm not trying to start an argument. I was just... I'll do the zinnias... Iris reaches over to take several of the flowers from Herrick. HERRICK No, I've got them. I need some more borax, ask Cole to get it. Herrick touches Cole on the shoulder and points to Iris. Iris signs to Cole, who goes into the kitchen and returns with a box of borax. The interchange is routine -- Iris speaks to Cole for both of them.


74.

INT. REHEARSAL ROOM, DAY Students are gathered on folding chairs, a girl is at the piano, and MRS. OLMSTEAD, the theater advisor, is running the try-outs. Herrick watches from the sidelines. MRS. OLMSTEAD Since we've all decided to do a musical for the Senior Play this year, and because I can't carry a tune in a bushel basket, I've asked Mr. Herrick to help us out. We will begin the tryouts with the role of Maria. Oh, we're putting on "West Side Story", but you all know that, don't you? So let's see, we'll start with Ardeth Huizenga. Ardeth gives her music to the pianist -- and sings -- sort of. You could get a prettier sound from a cat in a Cuisinart. Next -- a 'Maria' from hell, she yells the lyrics. -- flat, off-key, and can't remember the lyrics to a Bee Gees song. -- a pretty face, but a voice like Ernest Borgnine. -- too shy to sing loud enough to be heard. -- breaks into giggles every other line. -- Grace Slick doing "West Side Story". -- too many opera lessons. And then -- ROWENA DENEVE sings the hell out of "Somewhere". Herrick, nodding off in boredom, is suddenly awake. And she looks as pretty as her voice -- young, confident, the sound of an angel. She finishes. That was DeNeve. ? Did I in Music ago?

HERRICK very nice Miss... Very nice. DeNeve... have your younger sister 101 a couple of years

That was me.

ROWENA I ... blossomed.


75.

HERRICK I guess you did. (beat) Let's go on to the male lead, that's, uh... INT. HERRICK HOUSE, NIGHT Herrick is watching "Tony Orlando and Dawn". Iris and Cole are cutting self-stick green felt for the base of the paperweights. HERRICK Iris, can I dip into the 'opus' fund for about a hundred dollars. IRIS Sure... for one of your Oliver Twists? HERRICK Yeah. He has a chance for a scholarship at Western and I'd like to give him the bus fare and a decent set of clothes. IRIS Sure. Are you going to come to the Arts and Crafts fair Thursday night and help Cole and me set up the booth? HERRICK Sorry, Sophie Lappingals getting a root canal and I said I'd take her place on the field trip -- Battle Creek again. IRIS The Kellogg factory? Maybe you can bring back some Cocoa Puffs back for us. Iris signs back and forth with Cole excitedly. COLE (signing) I like Lucky Charms better -best. IRIS Maybe Cole can go along and see them make Lucky Charms.


76.

HERRICK Juniors only. IRIS That's okay, Cole and I will go out to Meijer Market and buy six tons of Lucky Charms and that's all we'll eat from now on. She and Cole sign back and forth and laugh. Herrick, left out, goes back to Tony Orlando and the canned laughter. INT. REHEARSAL ROOM, NIGHT Herrick directs the boys as they mutilate "Gee, Officer Krupke!". Rowena and some of the other students watch from the audience. Every time Herrick looks in Rowena's direction he finds her staring at him. It distracts the hell out of him. EXT. KENNEDY HIGH, NIGHT Herrick walks across the nearly empty parking lot. His Corvair, newly painted, badly painted, sits alone in the teachers' section. Rowena is waiting there. ROWENA Classic car, Mr. Herrick. HERRICK Really? I never thought of it that way. I suppose it will be a classic if it holds together for a few more years. That's better than calling it a piece of worn-out junk. Classic... I like that. ROWENA No, classic like, genius, like perfect. It's perfect for you, it's cute. HERRICK Really.. ROWENA Look, Mr. Herrick, I was supposed to catch a ride with Toby Klein, but I think he wants to rehearse (MORE)


77.

ROWENA (CONT'D) the love scenes -- for real. So I told him I'd catch a ride with someone else ... could you... ? HERRICK Of course. He opens the door for her and she jumps inside. INT. CORVAIR He gets behind the wheel, pumps the gas pedal. around the car and at Herrick.

Rowena looks

ROWENA Classic... Just drop me by my parents' restaurant. You've been there, right? HERRICK Yeah, the pizza place. He drives away. EXT. BOWSER'S PIZZA, NIGHT A mom and pop pizza parlor. street.

Herrick pulls up across the

INT. CORVAIR HERRICK There you go. ROWENA Are you hungry? Pizza's on me ... on my folks. HERRICK Pizza sounds good. I'll have to call home. Great!

ROWENA I'm starving!

INT. BOWSER'S, NIGHT Herrick and Rowena eat, though she talks more than she eats.


78.

ROWENA I love the way you teach music. I mean, you have this ... thing, this aura that you give off... like, I don't know, like this energy field. You love music and you make people love it with you. I have different ears because of you. HERRICK I'm not a plastic surgeon. ROWENA Don't make fun of me. I hear things differently now, that's special. HERRICK I'm just a teacher. ROWENA No, you're not. Mr. Prins is just a teacher. INT. BOWSER'S, LATER Herrick and Rowena finished the pizza a long time ago. There are a number of empty Mountain Dew and Dr. Pepper bottles on the table. "Spanish Harlem", the Aretha Franklin version, is playing on the jukebox. ROWENA Have you ever read "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues"? No? You should, you should. It's genius, really. It changed my life. How about "Ragtime"? Classic... "Stranger in a Strange Land"? Genius. (beat, listening) I love Aretha Franklin, isn't she genius? I wish I could sing like that. HERRICK You have the voice. ROWENA The voice is nothing. She has... feeling. It's pure, raw sex and pain and heart and soul and... life. There's living behind that voice. I haven't lived yet.


79.

HERRICK I think I know what you mean. I felt that way the first time I heard John Coletrane play. ROWENA Who's that? HERRICK Where do I start? He was... genius, classic ... perfect. ROWENA You're making fun of me again. HERRICK No, no, never. John Coletrane was all those things and more ... he was... INT. BOWSER'S, LATER The place is empty except for Herrick and Rowena in a booth and one guy mopping out the kitchen. HERRICK ...a symphony that took what George Gershwin and Aaron Copland did with the music of their time and brought it into the world of rock and roll. Took American music to the next step. A grand opus of American music. ROWENA Opus? The only Opus I know is in that comic strip, Bloom County. You know, with Milo and Bill the Cat. So when can. I hear this ... opus, symphony thing? HERRICK I never finished it -- I gave it up. I worked on it for... five years and then... Other people did it better than I ever could. ROWENA Oh, but not like you'd do it. You should finish it.


80.

HERRICK I only got to the first movement. ROWENA So... finish it. You have great things in you, Mr. Herrick. You're a talented man. I've watched you, you've got genius in you. She reaches over and takes his hand -- the intimacy overwhelms him. HERRICK God, look at the time. Tomorrow's a school day, for both of us. He rises and goes for his wallet. ROWENA I told you, my treat. HERRICK Well, thanks... Can I give you a ride home? ROWENA No, my dad'll be here soon to cash out. Thanks for the talk, and everything. Herrick smiles and nods. HERRICK See you at rehearsal. ROWENA You bet! He leaves. INT. HERRICK HOUSE, NIGHT Herrick enters quietly and puts down his briefcase. He stands in the dark room for a while, then walks over to the desk. He switches on the desk light, opens a drawer, and takes out his sheet music, the opus. Sitting down, he begins to read the pages, whispering the notes, smiling as he does. Not bad.


81.

INT. KENNEDY HIGH, DAY Lunch in the cafeteria. Herrick is eating at the teachers' table. Across the room Rowena reads "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance". She looks over the top of her book at Herrick from time to time. She gives him one of those smiles that drives lesser men mad. Meister sits next to Herrick. He's beginning to show a little potbelly and his hairline has begun an unstoppable retreat. He sees the look between Herrick and Rowena. MEISTER Cute kid. That the DeNeve girl? She's filled out nicely. HERRICK I guess so, they all do eventually. MEISTER Melody Kleis never filled out. So skinny she had to tie knots in her legs for knees. Meister leans closer to Herrick and speaks confidentially. MEISTER It's just a friendly question, Carl, but does the phrase "jail bait" apply here? Herrick gets the hint -- he stares at Meister angrily. MEISTER It's just, you know, putting my nose where it don't belong, I know. It's not like I have pretty young girls knocking on my door asking for personal attention. I'm the boys' gym teacher. All I get are questions about jock itch and athletes foot. (continuing) Once in a while I get to see the girls' dirty gym towels, but that's all. You don't think I made a bad career choice, do you? Meister is dissimulating like crazy, but Herrick gets up and leaves.


82.

INT. HERRICK HOUSE, NIGHT Herrick sits at the piano, his manuscript pages in front of him, going over a passage. Iris enters, surprised to hear the music. IRIS You're working on it again?! HERRICK Just noodling. IRIS That's great, hon. What started you again? HERRICK Did something have to start it?! I'm just noodling. IRIS All right, don't get your shorts in an uproar. I'll go mind my own business. She leaves. Herrick looks guilty for a moment, then starts playing again. EXT. FOOTBALL FIELD, NIGHT Kennedy against Hamilton High. Herrick sits in the stands next to the band. The kids play flourishes between scores and attempts. Rowena comes down and sits next to him. ROWENA We're getting creamed. HERRICK There's no sense in breaking with tradition. ROWENA I was a cheerleader last year, but I quit. It seemed so... Republican. Herrick laughs, then looks around to see if anyone is watching them. He sees Meister down on the bench, but Meister is involved iii the game. Herrick's laugh dies.


83.

INT. HERRICK HOUSE, NIGHT Herrick works hard at the piano, inspired. He's having a ball, finding an energy he hasn't had in years. Iris quietly brings in a TV tray with a sandwich and a glass of iced tea over to the piano. Herrick looks up and she smiles.

He avoids meeting her eyes.

INT. REHEARSAL ROOM, NIGHT The students work on one of their songs. "America!" Like you've never heard it before. At least they never heard this way on Broadway. INT. MUSIC ROOM, NIGHT Herrick works on his symphony, alone in the room. pizza.

He eats

INT. REHEARSAL ROOM, NIGHT The Sharks and the Jets -- the most white-bread bunch you've ever seen -- try to dance "The Rumble". Try. These clodhoppers are as graceful as a herd of cows slogging through mud. INT. HERRICK HOUSE, NIGHT Herrick and Iris argue. IRIS You can work at home! HERRICK There are too many distractions. IRIS Is that what your son and I are, distractions?! You can write here. You did before. HERRICK I can't now. IRIS We only see you one or two days a week as it is. (MORE)


84.

IRIS (CONT'D) You're volunteering for every damn extra-curricular activity you can think of. You don't like it here anymore? Is that it? HERRICK I'm late. He leaves. INT. REHEARSAL ROOM, NIGHT Herrick plays the second movement of his symphony for Rowena. She is paying rapt attention. He finishes -- and looks at her. ROWENA It's ... beautiful. Not classic?

HERRICK Or genius?

ROWENA It's ... just ... plain beautiful. And she kisses him impulsively. She's too quick for Herrick to stop her or respond. But it was a kiss. They look at each other -- Herrick is stunned -- will it go any further? HERRICK I gotta go. ROWENA (softly) Me, too. Catch a ride home? HERRICK All right. INT. CORVAIR, NIGHT Herrick drives -- neither of them speaks. Rowena lays a hand over Herrick's -- he allows the intimacy. EXT. ROWENA'S HOUSE, NIGHT Herrick pulls up to the curb.


INT. CORVAIR They sit there quietly, the engine ticking as it cools. ROWENA I'm thinking of leaving school and going to California. Just leave ... the town and everything. Herrick opens his mouth to protest. ROWENA Don't tell me to stay in school and all that. School won't help me a bit with what I want to do with my life, and I don't want anything to "fall back on". I'm going to be a singer a professional singer. I'll stay until the play is over, can't let Mrs. Olmstead down. HERRICK But you can go to college and sing at the same time. I worked more as a musician in college than I have since. Stay... finish school. ROWENA That's the teacher in you talking. The real Carl Herrick would go with me. We can go together. You write the songs -I'll sing them! Come with me, Carl! HERRICK I'm a married man. ROWENA We could change that, too. Herrick looks down at his hands. ROWENA I don't care one way or the other. I want you to come with me. I'll be your muse, I'll inspire you to create great music. We can do anything we want to if we try. That's what you teach in your class.

85.


86.

Her look is desperately sincere. ROWENA I love you... And she kisses him again -- a big one. Herrick responds. Rowena pulls away, jumps out of the car and runs into the house. INT. GARAGE, DAY A lazy weekend afternoon. Iris and Cole are working in the garage, sanding the bases of the paperweights on the belt sander. Their dust masks have painted faces on them. The piano is heard from inside the house. INT. HERRICK HOUSE, DAY Herrick is working on a slow, romantic piece of music. title on the sheet music is "Rowena's Theme".

The

Cole appears at Herrick's elbow and pulls on his sleeve. Herrick hardly looks at the boy. HERRICK Not now, Cole. Go play. Cole tugs more insistently. him to lip-read. Not now!

Herrick turns so Cole can see

HERRICK Go play!

He enunciates right in the boy's face shouting. in the doorway. IRIS He's deaf, Carl, totally deaf. Shouting won't make him hear. HERRICK I wasn't shouting, I was emphasizing. IRIS He just wants to give you something. HERRICK Later, later...

Iris appears


IRIS He made it himself. proud of it.

87.

He's very

HERRICK Fine, fine. Herrick holds out his hand without looking. Cole gives him something, but Herrick just puts it on the piano without looking at it. HERRICK Thanks, Cole. IRIS Look at it, look at it! Herrick looks at Iris, ready to argue, but he changes his mind and looks at his son's gift. A dandelion puff suspended in plastic -- delicate, beautiful. IRIS It was hard. He tried again and again, but the dandelions kept falling apart when they hit the plastic. Some of those looked nice, like you'd blown on it and it was just floating away, but Cole wanted a perfect one. For you! Why, I'll never know! So take the damned thing and ... and stick it where the sun don't shine! Herrick looks at Cole, who taps his temple with a fist, thumb extended. Iris grabs Cole and stomps out of the room. Herrick is surprised. INT. BACKSTAGE, NIGHT The students are making last minute, semi-hysterical preparations. The overture starts. Rowena, in costume, peeks through the curtains. A student is conducting the band. One of the student cast members joins Rowena and looks, too. ALENE Oh, God, there's my mom. ROWENA Where's Mr. Herrick?


88.

ALENE I don't know, but Donnie's conducting. ROWENA But we need Mr. Herrick.. ALENE Donnie'll be okay, we had more than enough rehearsals. Rowena scans the audience, disappointed. her away and into position.

Mrs. Olmstead yanks

INT. HERRICK HOUSE, NIGHT Herrick is writing at the piano. IRIS (O.S.) Who's Rowena? Herrick jerks around, startled.

Iris is right behind him.

HERRICK Huh? IRIS Rowena ... who's Rowena? HERRICK Uh, from an English legend a... heroine. Mythology. Iris nods and walks away. the piano.

Herrick has trouble going back to

INT. KENNEDY HIGH, DAY The halls are flooded with kids. Herrick navigates toward the music room when Rowena stops him. ROWENA Are you avoiding me, Mr. Herrick? Herrick looks around, self-conscious. music room. They are alone. INT. MUSIC ROOM HERRICK I've been writing.

He slips into the


89.

ROWENA That's good... You haven't seen me in the play yet. HERRICK I will. I've been working on a surprise for you. ROWENA (brightening) Really? HERRICK Yes, but you can't run off to California until I'm done with it. ROWENA I don't know if I can wait. The bell rings and kids surge into the room. Herrick and Rowena are parted by the wave of incoming students. Rowena leaves. INT. HERRICK HOUSE, NIGHT The clock says 3:00 a.m. Herrick is working at the piano. Iris comes in, sleepy-eyed. Herrick sees her and stops. IRIS What? You can't work with me around? What's the hurry anyway? You let it get dusty for years and now you have go get it done tomorrow? Herrick just looks at her impatiently. IRIS Sorry... She leaves him alone. INT. BACKSTAGE, NIGHT The cast is assembled before the performance. MRS. OLMSTEAD This is our last night, so let's loosen up. We've got nothing to be afraid of, so give it your best.


90.

Rowena has a dozen roses she displays for the other girls. GIRL #1 No card? I'll bet they're from Hank Dykhuis. GIRL #2 Probably your parents. Rowena peeks through the curtains.

Herrick is in the front.

INT. STAGE, NIGHT "West Side Story" is unfolding without a hitch -- well, it is a High School production. Rowena plays to Herrick, singing her heart out, showing off. INT. BACKSTAGE, NIGHT Intermission. Herrick comes backstage and congratulates the kids -- hugs and attaboys all around. When he reaches Rowena they step away from the others and speak quietly. ROWENA How am I ... the truth. HERRICK Transcendent. I finished the second movement and... I, uh... named it after you. ROWENA That's sweet, really, really sweet. (whispering) I wish we were alone. HERRICK I'd like to play it for you tomorrow. Tomorrow? tonight.

ROWENA But... I'm leaving HERRICK

Tonight?


ROWENA I told you, I'm leaving as soon as the play is over. Will you come with me? Please come with me. HERRICK I... Don't you want to hear your music? ROWENA I Will, in California. with me!

Come

HERRICK I can't... Wait a while. I just ... can't right now. ROWENA If I don't leave tonight I never will. I'm all packed. I've... I'm going. I want you to come with me, but... I'm going either way. Herrick is speechless. ROWENA There's a party at Mrs. Olmstead's after the play. I'm going. Sort of say good-bye to all my friends. They don't know that, but... There's a bus at four in the morning. Come with me. Herrick can't look at her. Mrs. Olmstead comes around, herding the students back to the stage. MRS. OLMSTEAD Everyone in their places, c'mon. ROWENA You're wasting your talent here. You were meant for great things ... Carl. Great things. HERRICK I can't just run away. ROWENA You're not running away, you're running to something new. The music begins to play, that's her cue.

91.


92.

ROWENA Four o'clock, the bus stop at King's Drugstore. She squeezes his hand and runs off.

Herrick stands there.

INT. STAGE Herrick watches the last act from the audience. Rowena seems to be singing "Someday, Somewhere" to him alone. EXT. MRS. OLMSTEAD'S, NIGHT Herrick pulls up outside the house. The street is full of parked cars, the house lit up with music and chatter flowing into the street. Kids are dancing and laughing. Herrick sits in his car. get out.

He can't summon up the courage to

INT. HERRICK HOUSE, NIGHT Herrick walks through the house.

Iris is reading in bed.

IRIS How'd it go? HERRICK Mrs. Olmstead outdid herself, tin ear and all. Think I'll work for a while. He walks through the house, not turning on the lights. He sits at the piano. He picks up the dandelion paperweight and holds it in his hand. EXT. KING'S DRUGSTORE, NIGHT A corner drugstore, a sign and bench in the parking lot are the bus stop. The store is closed. Rowena sits on the bench, her suitcase at her feet and the wilting roses in her hands. There is no traffic, nothing. planet.

She could be alone on the

A bus pulls into the parking lot and stops.


93.

Rowena stands and looks around. INT. CORVAIR Parked in the deep shadows, Herrick watches Rowena. heart is breaking.

His

EXT. KING'S DRUGSTORE Rowena can't see the Corvair in the darkness. She picks up her suitcase and boards the bus. The bus hisses and sighs as the door closes and it glides out of the parking lot and out of town. INT. CORVAIR Herrick almost cries. HERRICK (softly) Break a leg, Rowena... INT. HERRICK HOUSE, NIGHT Herrick walks quietly into the dark house. music into the desk drawer and closes it.

He puts his sheet

He undresses automatically in the darkness as he walks toward the bedroom. In the dark he climbs quietly into bed. Iris is awake. She looks over at him. ceiling. Iris rolls away from him.

He stares at the

HERRICK (softly) I do love you, you know. IRIS I know. She offers him her hand -- he takes it. INT. MUSIC ROOM, DAY Herrick enters. On his desk is a stuffed Opus penguin doll, with a note -- "To Mr. Herrick. Before I met you this was the only Opus I'd ever heard of. Thank you for all you've taught me. Rowena". He puts the stuffed penguin on a file cabinet.


94.

INT. MUSIC ROOM, 1994 Herrick picks up the now-motley Opus doll. Dust puffs up as he taps it against the cabinet. He drops it into his box and looks around. That's almost it. The stained glass treble clef in the window and the photographs of musicians on the walls. He starts taking them down -- Tatum, Coletrane, Chuck Berry, The Beach Boys, The Beatles -- Paul, Ringo, John... John Lennon ... Herrick looks at the photograph of John Lennon ... kind John... MONTAGE -- COUNTY ROAD, DAY Student drivers through the years. My Life Away". 1977 - 1978 --

Eddie Rabbitt is "Driving

-- and for '79 and '80 the cars are Toyotas. END MONTAGE. INT. KENNEDY HIGH, DAY Outside it's the beginning of winter. There isn't snow yet, but the ground has been frozen and the trees are bare of leaves. Herrick unbundles as he enters the building and walks down the hall to his room. Christmas decorations are up -- a basketball game is announced with a banner. One of the students runs over to Herrick. STUDENT Mr. Herrick! Did you hear? John Lennon was shot last night. Killed ... by some nut! Herrick stops in his tracks, like he was hit. The kids flow around him, snatches of conversation and surprise confirm the news. Herrick goes with the flow into his room. INT. MUSIC ROOM Herrick goes to the front of the class, trying to shake himself out of his trance. The bell rings. The kids settle in.


95.

HERRICK We were ... where were we ... time signature. Beginning every piece of music is a notation that indicates the number of beats to the bar... (beat) There are a variety ... of common time signatures... (beat) Those we are familiar with are the waltz, at 3/4 time, 4/4 common time, a march at 4/4 or 6/8 ... Herrick stops as he focuses on the photograph of John Lennon. HERRICK Who can name me a song that is an example of... Herrick stops again, unable to concentrate. HERRICK ... Of... I'm sorry...uh, class dismissed ... uh, no. Use the rest of the hour for study. Excuse me. And he walks out, to the bafflement of the students. EXT. KENNEDY HIGH, DAY Herrick walks around the grounds aimlessly, then sits in the football bleachers. They are empty except for him. Soon, without his coat, he is too cold and he leaves. A medley of Lennon/McCartney songs plays in his head. He returns to the school buildings. INT. KENNEDY HIGH, DAY It is lunch time. Noisy kids mill around, grabbing their lunches from their lockers. Herrick, not ready to face anyone yet, ducks into the gymnasium. INT. GYMNASIUM The piano is up on the stage -- the gym is empty.


96.

Herrick walks up onto the stage and sits at the piano. He sits there for a while, looking at his hands. Then he begins to play... "A Day In the Life" ... that masterpiece. The melancholy intro, then, "I read the news today... " Herrick plays with all the heart he has in him. in his eyes and fall down his cheeks.

Tears well

He finishes the song and turns around. The gym has filled, kids in the bleachers, sitting on the floor. Silent, sad, some crying. Herrick stares at them. MARTY Play something else, Mr. Herrick! He turns back to the piano and plays, "Give Peace A Chance" Someone begins singing. Other voices join in and the song fills the gym. Teachers and more students look into the gym curiously, then join in. "All we are saying, Is give peace a chance... INT. HERRICK HOUSE, DAY Herrick enters. Iris has expanded into stained glass. Sun catchers crowd the windows. Colored glass and lead channel litter the work table. She's soldering. HERRICK Did you hear? About John Lennon? IRIS Yes, the world's gone crazy. (beat) Cole got into another fight today. (beat) Dinner will be in an hour or so. Tuna and rice casserole. HERRICK I'm not real hungry... (beat) I'm thinking about trying to finish my opus again.


IRIS (smiling) That's great, Carl. really nice.

97.

That's

HERRICK I'm... I'm gonna go rake the leaves or something. IRIS They're all ... put on your gloves. HERRICK He left us a lot. All that music, it will live forever, won't it. He is not looking for an answer and goes outside. EXT. HERRICK HOUSE Cole, mower looks under

now fourteen, works on a go-cart, installing the lawn engine. He's good at tinkering and he likes it. He up as Herrick enters the garage. Cole has a bruise one eye.

Herrick takes a rake from the hook on the wall. He walks across the yard. Cole runs after him and signs to him. COLE (signing) Come look at what I'm building. HERRICK What? I don't... later, Cole. I'm not in the mood. Cole taps his temple with a closed fist, thumb extended. Herrick notices it and Cole tries again. COLE (signing) You have to look.

Please

HERRICK Write it down, Cole. Someone died yesterday, I ... Cole goofs off, miming hanging himself. HERRICK That's not funny. A great man was killed ... murdered.


98.

Cole mimes shooting himself in the head. HERRICK It's not funny. Stop it! Cole mimes aiming at Herrick -- pow, pow! hand. Cole pulls away.

Herrick grabs his

The contact quickly becomes serious and they're flailing at each other on the ground. Iris runs out of the house. Stop it!

IRIS Stop it!

She pulls them apart. IRIS (to Herrick) What the hell is going on, Carl? HERRICK Cole was making fun of Lennon's murder. I was just trying to stop him. IRIS He doesn't know Lennon from Liberace, Carl. He was just joking around. HERRICK It's not funny... it's Lennon... IRIS He's never heard the Beatles, Carl. Or any other music. And he certainly has never learned anything about it from you. She goes back into the house.

Cole returns to the garage.

Herrick picks up the rake and attacks the few leaves he can find. He gives up on that and heads back to the garage. Cole sits on the bench, viciously cleaning a part. HERRICK Cole, I'm... He grabs a rag and starts wiping a sparkplug. away from him.

Cole takes it


99.

HERRICK I want to apologize. Cole looks at him stubbornly. COLE (signing) I don't understand. Herrick mouths the words carefully. HERRICK I want to apologize. Cole shakes his head, shrugs, and signs again. HERRICK (signing) I don't understand. Pay attention. You know damn well what I'm saying. Cole shakes his head stubbornly. house, mad.

Herrick stomps into the

INT. HERRICK HOUSE Herrick slams the door behind him. checking the casserole.

Iris is at the stove,

HERRICK I can't talk to that kid. IRIS That's because you never learned how. That stops him in his tracks. EXT. HAVILAND COUNTY HEALTH CENTER, DAY Herrick stands in front of the building. on the ground. He finally enters.

A little snow is

INT. COUNTY HEALTH CENTER Herrick sits in an office with MRS. BOULLOSA. "Services for the Hearing Impaired" says the sign on the door. A maintenance man is taking down Christmas decorations.


100.

HERRICK I need to learn sign language. My son is deaf. MRS. BOULLOSA How old is he? HERRICK Fourteen. Mrs. Boullosa looks a little surprised. MRS. BOULLOSA Does your son sign? HERRICK Yes, pretty well, I'm told. MRS. BOULLOSA And how long has he been signing? HERRICK Since he was four or five. His mother, my wife, she can do it, too. I ... I never got around to it. I know that's a flimsy excuse, but... I just need to learn it, all right. MRS. BOULLOSA No one's passing judgment on you, Mr. Herrick. When would you like to begin? HERRICK Immediately. INT. MUSIC ROOM, DAY The bell rings and the kids settle in. HERRICK Welcome to Music 101. Look at your schedule... if it doesn't say Music 101, leave now. I hope you all had a nice Christmas and that you put the same enthusiasm into this term that you put into your vacation. Now ... how many... The door opens and MRS. KIERNAN, the principal, enters with three Michigan punks. Black jeans, black leather jackets, bad haircuts and safety pins.


101.

Mrs. Kiernan sits them in the back and gives their cards to Herrick. MRS. KIERNAN Here's a fine test for the "teacher of last resort". Mr. Schiff, Goodrich, and Groves. Three signs of the coming apocalypse. HERRICK And they're mine? Thanks, Mrs. Kiernan. Mrs. Kiernan leaves.

Herrick looks at the three punks.

HERRICK All right, where was I? Okay, how many of you like music? The usual few hands. HERRICK Who likes the Rolling Stones? A few hands. Elton John? Queen?

HERRICK Hall and Oates?

The punks keep their hands in their laps. HERRICK Blondie? Mister Schiff, Goodrich, and Groves... is there any music you do like? Kenny Rogers maybe? What music do you listen to? SCHIFF We listen to Fear ... X ... The Clash... GOODRICH The Sex Pistols and The Ramones... The Cramps... GROVES The Dead Kennedys... (laughing) Black Flag, Oingo Boingo... Springsteen.

He talks to them.


102.

SCHIFF Springsteen sucks. HERRICK What is it about this music, these artists, that you like? SCHIFF They're anarchists. They don't cop out to all that corporate music bullshit. GOODRICH Music for the people, not for bucks. GROVES Anybody can make music. You pick up a guitar, or something, and you, you know, wham! No rules. No censorship, you play what you feel. SCHIFF Yeah, it comes from your guts. HERRICK That's a beautiful thought. All right, let's move on. For now, we'll talk about Elton John... INT. COUNTY HEALTH CENTER, NIGHT Herrick works with Mrs. Boullosa, trying to learn sign language. HERRICK Every letter? You're kidding. Okay, okay. He starts going through the alphabet, but has some trouble. A lot of trouble, really, but he's trying hard. INT. HERRICK HOUSE, NIGHT Herrick looks out the front window at Cole in the driveway. There is snow falling, but Cole is testing his go-cart. Iris is cutting stained glass. IRIS Would you go get Cole? It's getting too cold outside.


103.

HERRICK He'll come in when he's cold enough. He watches Cole.

The engine starts.

HERRICK I wonder what it's like. Do you think it's just silent, or a droning noise like, you know, after a loud concert? That kind of ringing noise... But he can't tell me, can he? He has no basis for comparison. No sound, no music, ever... No lullaby, no song of love, or sadness, or just for fun. No Mozart or Jerry Lee Lewis... He watches as Cole puts a screwdriver to the engine block, then presses his temple against it. Cole adjusts the gas feed as he "listens". Herrick is fascinated. IRIS Carl, bring him in. Herrick finally goes outside. INT. MUSIC ROOM, DAY Herrick passes out graded test papers. HERRICK Mr. Schiff, Mr. Goodrich, and Mr. Groves will see me after class. The three punks look at their test papers and grimace. INT. MUSIC ROOM, LATER The three rebels slouch in front of Herrick's desk. takes several new albums from a bag. HERRICK All right, here's the deal. You three seem intent on flunking... SCHIFF It's not a personal thing, Mr. Herrick, it's political.

Herrick


104.

GROVES We don't believe in your kind of music. HERRICK I understand that, so I'm going to ask you to meet me halfway. GOODRICH Compromise leads to cop-out. HERRICK Hear me out. Here's the deal. I went out and bought a few albums by some of your favorite artists. He hands out the albums -- Black Flag, The Dead Kennedys, etc. GROVES The new Plasmatics, cool. HERRICK Now I will pick one song from one of these albums and you three have a choice... Learn to play it or write down the music ... and you pass. Pass?

SCHIFF What grade?

HERRICK Just pass or fail. I cleared it with Principal Kiernan. GOODRICH Write it down or play it? HERRICK And be able to read it back to me, note for note, or chord. SCHIFF How good we gotta play it. HERRICK That's my judgment call. I will use the standards of the original group performance. I will even provide the instruments.


105.

SCHIFF Deal. The other two nod their agreement. HERRICK Would you say Black Flag best represents your particular philosophy of music? Herrick slits open the album and puts it on the turntable. The three punks nod again. Herrick lowers the needle -- "Louie, Louie" plays -- a nasty, crude, ugly version, but it's recognizable. SCHIFF Hey, we can do that. can do that.

Anybody

INT. MUSIC STORE, DAY One side of the music store is dedicated to classical instruments, horns, violins, sheet music, pianos, etc. The other side is rock and roll heaven -- guitars, amps, drums and a sign -- Any playing of "Stairway to Heaven" is Forbidden. Herrick enters and walks over to the rock and roll section BUDDY MEDILL, the owner, sees Herrick. MEDILL Carl, when is that damn basketball team of ours going to do some scoring? HERRICK That's not my area, take it up with Meister. Buddy, I've been a faithful customer of yours for, what ... how long now? MEDILL (suspiciously) Fifteen years or more. I hate it when customers quiz me on their buying history, it always winds up costing me. HERRICK Well, I figure my students and I have been responsible for (MORE)


106.

HERRICK (CONT'D) nearly half of your profit margin... MEDILL Here it comes. Should I just bend down and grab my ankles? HERRICK I need a favor ... two favors, actually. Medill starts toward the classical section. MEDILL What is it this time? I can give you a hell of a deal on a glockenspiel. HERRICK No, what I need is in here. Medill is surprised as Herrick goes into the rock section. INT. COUNTY HEALTH CENTER, NIGHT Herrick is working with Mrs. Boullosa. MRS. BOULLOSA You can't learn all this in a couple of weeks, Mr. Herrick. This is a six-month course. HERRICK Yeah, yeah, yeah... MRS. BOULLOSA For a teacher, you're one lousy student. Sorry.

HERRICK Let's try it again.

INT. HERRICK HOUSE, NIGHT Herrick is sitting on the toilet, working from his sign language book. There is a knock at the door. IRIS (O.S.) Carl, you okay in there? fall in or something?

You


107.

HERRICK Yeah, just a minute. He hides the book in his shirt and flushes the toilet. INT. REHEARSAL ROOM, DAY The three punks are standing there with their guitars and amps. Herrick enters. HERRICK So, what's the problem? SCHIFF We can't quite figure this one part out... HERRICK Which part? The three punks look at each other. GROVES The whole damn thing. make is noise.

All we

GOODRICH Yeah, you tricked us. song's hard, man.

This

HERRICK It's only got three chords, Mr. Goodrich. You find a song with less and I'll give you an 'A'. SCHIFF What's a chord, man? HERRICK (smiling) What is a chord? Sit down, gentlemen. They sit. INT. HERRICK HOUSE, NIGHT Cole is working on a car model. onto glass.

Iris is tracing a pattern

Herrick enters, dumps his overcoat and briefcase. He walks over to Cole and hands him a small envelope. Cole opens it, looks at the tickets inside, scowls and throws them aside.


108.

Herrick touches Cole's shoulder. HERRICK Please... Iris picks up the tickets. IRIS Is this a joke, Carl? If it is, it's an exceedingly cruel one. HERRICK No, I'm serious. Cole looks to Iris -- she nods. nods.

Cole looks at Herrick and

EXT. KENNEDY HIGH, NIGHT "Concert - 8:00 p.m." says the marquee. Iris pulls into the parking lot in the VW van, with Herrick and Cole. They get out and walk toward the gymnasium with other adults and students. HERRICK I could have driven. IRIS I'm not riding in that death trap. One of these days you'll hit an ant and the whole car will disintegrate. Cole sees a friend and runs ahead. animatedly in sign language.

The two kids talk

IRIS Carl, if this hurts him I will never forgive you. HERRICK Neither will I. I've got to get ready. INT. GYMNASIUM, NIGHT A banner is hung over the stage -- "Concert for the Hearing Impaired". The orchestra is setting up on the stage. been placed in front of each section.

Microphones have


109.

The usual folding chairs have been moved back from the stage, leaving room for two rows of huge Marshall speakers. On top of each speaker is a plywood platform with a chair. Cole and other deaf children are shown to the chairs on the speakers. The rest of the audience take their places toward the back. The orchestra is soon ready and Herrick steps to the podium. A sign language interpreter stands to one side of the stage. HERRICK Thank you all for coming. Tonight is an experiment... I hope it works. I had prepared a big speech about the importance of music in our world, but it went on for pages and pages. So, I decided the best way to explain music to the hearing impaired is to give it to you and let you make of it what you will. (beat) Our first selection this evening is by George Gershwin, "Rhapsody in Blue". In this music Gershwin was trying to give us his impression of the city of New York. Here we go. He faces the orchestra and raises his baton. And the music begins. From the instruments, into the microphones, through the amplifiers, and out of the Marshall speakers. The chairs on top of the speakers vibrate with the music. The gorgeous Gershwin sound fills the room. Cole holds onto his chair and his eyes widen. He and the other kids look at each other. And each one begins to smile. They can feel the music! It courses through their bodies! Herrick looks over his shoulder at Cole -- it's working! The deaf children begin to sway to the music. INT. GYMNASIUM, LATER Herrick stands at the podium. HERRICK I find it hard to believe that there is anyone alive today who has never heard the words of (MORE)


110.

HERRICK (CONT'D) Lennon and McCartney, with or without the Beatles. So, for our final selection tonight, we would like to perform a song by John Lennon... Herrick hands the baton to the student conductor. HERRICK And, uh, for the hearing impaired in our audience, this may be the one time you are grateful for your hearing difficulties -I am going to sing. To the hearing portion of our audience, my profound apologies. A ripple of laughter runs through the audience. stunned.

Iris is

HERRICK And ... on a personal note... I'd like to dedicate this to my son, Cole. Herrick nods to the student conductor. The music begins. Herrick begins to sing -- not a good voice, but sincere. HERRICK (singing) Close your eyes, Have no fear, The monster's gone. He's on the run and your daddy's here. Beautiful, Beautiful, beautiful, Beautiful boy. As Herrick sings, he signs the words! He sings to Cole, whose eyes well with tears. Iris is crying. Herrick stumbles here and there, but he manages to sing and sign the words of this touching tribute by John Lennon to his son. HERRICK Before you cross the street Take my hand. Life is what happens to you While you're busy Making other plans. Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful boy. (MORE)


111.

HERRICK (CONT'D) Darling, Darling, Darling, Cole. The audience breaks into applause. But Cole and Herrick just look at each other, oblivious to the others. They just look at each other, both in tears. EXT. KENNEDY HIGH, NIGHT Herrick shakes hands with people as they leave the concert. A lot of thanks and congratulations. Medill, the owner of the music store, slaps Herrick on the back. MEDILL Chairs an top of speakers, Herrick. One chair falls through, that's a couple of grand down the toilet. Great show. Herrick watches Iris and Cole talking animatedly next to the VW van. Medill shakes Herrick's hand and he's the last person out. Herrick, rather full of himself, walks over to the parking lot. Iris and Cole are already inside when Herrick opens the door and gets in. INT. VW VAN, NIGHT Iris drives.

Herrick leans back to talk and sign to Cole.

HERRICK What say we to the drag races this season, huh, Cole? Cha Cha Muldowney! Cha ... Cha... Herrick has trouble signing "Cha Cha" COLE (signing) I can read your lips. HERRICK Right. So what about it?


COLE Maybe. Maybe?

HERRICK You love the drags.

IRIS Don't push it, Carl. HERRICK Don't push it? What's wrong here? IRIS What you did tonight was very nice... it was beautiful, Carl, really. COLE But it doesn't make up for everything else. HERRICK I ... I know that. I don't expect to clean the slate in one night. But it's a start, isn't it? I mean ... a person should get a second chance, shouldn't they? We all screw up. We should get another chance, a chance to change. Herrick's appeal is heartfelt. HERRICK A second chance. Then if they blow it -- shut them out. But a person should get a chance. (beat) I'd give it to you. Iris? IRIS Carl, I'm not the one you should ask. HERRICK Cole? Please. I can't make everything up to you, but I can... COLE We will go to the drag races. HERRICK And more.

112.


113.

COLE And more. EXT. HERRICK HOUSE, NIGHT The van pulls up. Cole is out first. Herrick and Iris follow slowly.

He goes into the house.

IRIS He's a good kid. HERRICK Yes, he is. Thanks to you. By the way, what's this mean? I can't find it in any of the books. He taps his temple with his fist, thumb extended. IRIS Uh... it means ... asshole. Herrick laughs. Asshole!

HERRICK Hah! I can use that.

EXT. HERRICK HOUSE, DAY A Spring weekend. The garage door is open to the fresh air. The Corvair is inside with the hood up. Herrick and Cole are working with the engine. They argue in sign language. HERRICK Junk, my rosy red butt. classic.

It's a

COLE It should be shot and put out of it's misery. You're lucky it hasn't blown up in your face. Herrick signs "asshole". and go back to work.

Cole does the same.

They laugh

INT. HERRICK HOUSE Iris is hanging a sun catcher in the window. She sees Herrick and Cole arguing about the car -- she smiles.


114.

INT. GYMNASIUM, NIGHT The Senior Prom is in progress. A student disk jockey plays the latest hits of 1981. Kids dance in their formals and tuxes. The song ends and Herrick takes the stage. HERRICK We have a special treat for you Seniors tonight. A group of our own students has been persuaded to make their professional debut right here at Kennedy High. Ladies and gentlemen, the Sex Dwarfs! And the curtain parts to show Schiff, Goodrich, and Groves in their leather best. Guitar, bass, and drums. They launch into "Louie, Louie" -- particularly raucous and obnoxious, but faithful somehow to both Black Flag and the Kingsmen. Principal Kiernan and Coach Meister both turn on Herrick, who beams proudly. INT. HERRICK HOUSE, DAY Herrick is reading the Michigan Motor Vehicle Code, newly revised for 1981. Cole walks in and out, humming something that sounds barely like Gershwin, out of key, preoccupied. Herrick winces at the whistling. notices Herrick's reaction.

Iris is soldering, but she

IRIS You started it. Herrick can only shrug. Cole walks back through again. signing.

Herrick stops him this time,

HERRICK Is something wrong, Cole? COLE Dad, will you teach me how to drive? Herrick's chest swells with fatherly pride.


115.

HERRICK I'll be glad to. EXT. ROAD, DAY The Corvair jerks along the road, Cole at the wheel. INT. MUSIC ROOM, 1994 Herrick takes the glass treble clef off the window, deep in thought. He is jerked back to the present by the Corvair pulling up outside. The Corvair has been restored beautifully, perfectly. A twenty-eight year-old Cole gets out of it. He sees Herrick at the window. He bows and waves his hand at the Corvair -- Ta Dah! Herrick claps his hands so Cole can see. He puts the treble clef in the box and looks around the room. Iris is sitting in the back working on a needlepoint project. HERRICK Iris ... how long have you been here? IRIS A while. Are you ready to go? HERRICK Yes, I guess so. What are you working on? IRIS Something for you. surprise.

It's a

She rolls it up so he can't see it. Cole enters. He's wearing mechanic's overalls, spotless, with a patch over one pocket -- "Herrick Body and Engine". HERRICK (signing) The car looks good. COLE It's a classic. And you can't have it back. We made a deal, fair and square.


116.

HERRICK (signing) Did I say I wanted it back? COLE All right, you can drive it on weekends, but you have to have it back by eleven. Need help with the box? HERRICK (signing) No, I can manage. You didn't have to come. COLE Didn't want an old fart like you to strain himself. Cole picks up a box, Herrick the briefcase, and they head out. HERRICK Oh, my keys! He goes back and gets his keys off the desk. Herrick pauses and looks over the room that was his for thirty years. He sees faces at the desks, young faces. Gertrude Van Lente, Louis Rus, Jill Lohman, Ed Claypool, Yntema, Tidd, Rowena, Schiff, Goodrich, Groves, and many more. Ghostly faces, his former students. His memories. He leaves. INT. HALLWAY Their footsteps echo in the empty hall. Herrick hears something. HERRICK What was that? BOOMP!

BOOMP!

BOOMP!

Somebody is pounding on a piano.

HERRICK Somebody's fooling around in the gymnasium. IRIS Leave it be, Carl. BOMP!

BOMP!


117.

HERRICK No one should be in there. BOMP!

BOMP!

Herrick walks toward the gymnasium.

HERRICK Besides, that piano is just one step away from firewood as it is. Cole and Iris follow Herrick to the gym.

He enters.

INT. GYMNASIUM BOMP!

BOMP!

BOMP!

BOMP!

BOMP!

BOMP!

BOMP!

BOMP!

"Louie, Louie" fills the air, played by the school band. The gymnasium is full, crammed to the rafters with students and townsfolk. There is a banner over the stage -- "Good-bye, Mr. Herrick". Herrick is overwhelmed. Meister takes his briefcase and Principal Kiernan escorts him toward the stage. People reach out of the audience to shake his hand. Soon we recognize older versions of Schiff, Goodrich, Groves -Lohman, Ed Claypool, Yntema, then Tidd -- maybe a very womanly Rowena near the back. Mrs. Kiernan leads Herrick up the steps to the stage, to the podium in front of the band. A stunned Herrick looks for Iris.

She and Cole wink at him.

The applause finally dies down and Mrs. Kiernan addresses the crowd. MRS. KIERNAN I've only been here, what, thirteen years already? But when the word got out that the Music Program was cut, and about the subsequent retirement of our Mr. Herrick ... well, I have never seen such a response from this community -- never. So we put together a little send-off. (MORE)


118.

MRS. KIERNAN (CONT'D) We were going to buy you something, Carl, a watch, or whatever... We asked your wife Iris what you might want or need, she was no help at all. (beat) The one thing she did mention was your writing. And I remember all those school board meetings, faculty meetings, and so on. I always saw you scribbling away, what I thought were pertinent notes, but I looked over your shoulder once and discovered it was quarter-notes and flats. I was so glad when you finished the damned thing so you could concentrate on your teaching again. There is good-nature laughter from the audience. MRS. KIERNAN Seriously, though, I don't think I have ever come across a more dedicated, selfless teacher. The only way we can ever pay you back is to perform, for the first time, "The American Opus", by Carl Herrick. She hands him the baton.

He turns to the orchestra.

The instruments are poised and ready. He looks down at the music stand. The sheet music is a copy of the original, in his handwriting. "The American Opus" by Carl Herrick. He touches the sheets of music, looks at Iris. His Iris. He loves this woman. She motions him to get on with it. Then raises the baton, taps it once on the music stand and ... the orchestra plays. The opening strains of the music fill the gym. Herrick's face glows and his chest fills with pride. There is a quiet murmur in the audience behind him. It gets louder, disrupting the music. Herrick looks over his shoulder. Two Highway Patrolmen can be seen in the back of the gymnasium.


119.

The murmur in the audience increases. A few words are audible. "The Governor ... "It's the Governor!" "Here!" "Where?" "I can't see ... " "Look, over there!" Herrick drops his baton and the music peters out. The two Highway Patrolmen walk down the aisle ahead of a middle-aged woman in glasses. She is followed by two more Highway Patrolmen and a couple of staff members. She strides up the stage. startled.

Principal Kiernan takes the podium,

MRS. KIERNAN Ladies and gentlemen, may I present our Governor ... and former Kennedy High School alumna, the Most Honorable Gertrude Van Lente. By God, it is Gertrude. She takes the microphone, waits for the applause to die down. GERTRUDE Thank you, Principal Kiernan. I'm sorry I arrived late and spoiled the music, but we'll get right back to it. I came here today to say my thanks to Mr. Carl Herrick. I remember him well... He had a great influence on my life. On a lot of lives, I know. And I have the feeling that Mr. Herrick considers a great part of his life was misspent. He wrote this symphony of his to be performed, possibly to make him famous or rich, probably both. That is the American dream... that is how we measure success, by being rich and famous. On that scale, Mr. Herrick is a failure -- but I think he has achieved a success beyond riches and fame. Look around you, Mr. Herrick. There is not a life in this room that you have not touched. And each one is a better person for meeting you, or being your student. This is your symphony, Mr. Herrick. These people are the notes and melodies of your opus. And this is the music of your life.


120.

The audience gives Herrick a standing ovation. He looks out at the audience, each face a memory, a moment of his life. GERTRUDE One last thing, Mr. Herrick. As long as I am Governor of this State there will always be a Music Program in the High Schools. Let's get back to the music. Mr. Herrick... Herrick steadies himself and goes back to the orchestra. raises the baton. The music begins again.

He

It is a great symphony with elements of jazz, rock, country, tin pan alley, and classical. Gertrude goes over to one of the girls playing the clarinet and whispers in her ear. And she takes the clarinet, takes the student's seat, and plays. Then, out of the audience, one or two at a time, other adults approach the stage and -- one by one -- replace the students in the orchestra. Eventually the orchestra is composed completely of adults. Herrick cries openly as he leads them. And in the audience, resting in Iris, lap, is the needlepoint -words encircled by twining ivy -"Life Is What Happens While You Are Making Other Plans" THE END

Mr Holland's Opus.SCW - Daily Script

Mr Holland's Opus.SCW - Daily Script

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